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

The new Now Brief home screen widget acts as a proactive dashboard meant to anticipate your needs. —Iyaz Akhtar, PCMAG, 23 Jan. 2025

The device offers your own home screen customization to easily find your favorite channels, automatic updates, and a high-definition picture. —Kelsey Fredricks, People.com, 21 Jan. 2025

To download useful apps on your new iPhone, follow these straightforward steps: Locate the App Store icon on your home screen and tap to open it. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 14 Jan. 2025

After pairing the headphones, the app's home screen shows information like the battery level and the selected EQ mode, along with a multi-point button and basic media controls. —PCMAG, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

home screen

noun

1

: television

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