home ec

noun

ˈhōm-ˈek 

informal : a subject or class that teaches skills useful in the home : home economics

In part, home ec has become a victim of education trends: School budgets are contracting, many more students are preparing for college, and class hours are increasingly devoted to a narrow core of academic subjects and testing. Home economics also has to conquer its associations with training non-college-bound girls to be good wives.

—Ruth Graham

Examples of home ec in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Donahue is regarded as an early advocate for women, giving his largely female audience the opportunity to speak and ask questions on serious topics rather than the home ec subjects that so many daytime talkers focused on. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2024

Goldenrod eggs, or eggs goldenrod, is an old-timey, timeless recipe that burgeoning home cooks once learned in home ec classes—a lesson in making a warm, satisfying meal from staples that most people kept on hand, something that could be on the table in minutes. —Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024

Though the extent of her sewing experience occurred in a middle school home ec class sewing a letter on a pillow, Julia decided to figure it out. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 31 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above