home screen

noun

1
: television sense 2
… it's the kind of movie that plays better on the home screen, where you're less likely to miss any of the fiendishly witty lines of the screenplay … and can replay some of the stunning special effects.Molly Haskell
TV viewers soon may be seeing some of their black-and-white film favorites blushing with new color on the home screen.Ron Miller
2
: the graphical user interface that is displayed by default by an electronic device (such as a smartphone or computer) or software application and that provides quick access to commonly used functions, settings, etc.
[Journalist Catherine] Price's suggestions range from the extreme, such as a "digital sabbath" during which you turn your phone off for 24 hours, to the seemingly slight, such as reorganising your phone's home screen so you can't see the bright, tempting colours of your favourite apps the second you turn it on.Caroline Crampton
The Netflix interface—the home screen that greets users when they open the app—is constantly evolving.James Titcomb

Examples of home screen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In addition to being outfitted with AI capabilities, the iPhone 16e has a 16.1-inch display screen, and no longer has the home screen button familiar to SE owners. CBS News, 19 Feb. 2025 The company’s growth was driven in part by the Roku user experience, including promoting content on its home screen, Wood told CNBC’s Julia Boorstin. Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025 To hit $1 billion in platform revenue, Wood said Roku had concentrated on making better use of its home screen, driving more ad demand by expanding third-party partnerships and providing more resources and home-screen integrations aimed at growing subscription revenue. Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2025 The most immediately obvious change to the Family Link app for parents, available for Android and iOS, should be the replacement of the Highlights tab on the bottom left of its home screen with a Screen Time tab. Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for home screen

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of home screen was in 1948

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Home screen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/home%20screen. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

home screen

noun
1
2
: the graphical user interface that is displayed by default by an electronic device (as a smartphone or computer) or software application and that provides quick access to commonly used functions and settings
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!