homily

A homily is usually a serious talk about how people should live or behave. Most often, it means a sermon given in church, especially one that explains a moral or religious lesson. Outside religion, it can also mean a speech that sounds very earnest and full of advice about right and wrong. If someone says a person is giving a homily, they may mean the speech feels a bit preachy or too eager to teach a lesson.

The word "homily" comes from the Greek word homilia, which referred to conversation or company. In English, it first came to mean a sermon or religious talk, especially one that explains a moral lesson in a plain and direct way. That religious sense is still the main one today.

From there, the word also grew into a broader meaning. It can describe any serious speech, lecture, or piece of writing that teaches people how they ought to act. In that wider sense, the speaker is not just sharing facts; the speaker is trying to pass on a lesson about right and wrong.

That is why the word can sound respectful in one sentence and critical in another. "The priest gave a thoughtful homily on forgiveness" uses it in its usual church setting. But "He launched into a homily about responsibility" suggests a talk that feels moralizing, long, or slightly tiresome. The related adjective "homiletic" describes something that has this sermon-like, lesson-giving style.

So, at its core, a homily is a sermon or sermon-like talk that tries to teach a moral lesson. Depending on context, it may sound sincere and thoughtful, or it may suggest that someone is being preachy.