homesteader

UK: /ˈhəʊmˌstɛdə/ US: (hōm′sted′ər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

home•stead•er  (hōm′sted′ər), n. 

1. Government the owner or holder of a homestead.
2. Government a settler under the Homestead Act.

• homestead + -er¹ 1860–65, American.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

homesteader / ˈhəʊmˌstɛdə/ noun

1. a person owning a homestead
2. a person who acquires or possesses land under a homestead law

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

home•stead /ˈhoʊmstɛd, -stɪd/   n. [countable]

1. Government, Law a dwelling with its land and buildings occupied by the owner as a home.
2. Government an area of land given by the government to someone who promises to farm it for a period of time.

v. 

3. Government to acquire or settle on (land) as a homestead: [~ + object]
   They homesteaded the land.
   [no object]
   They homesteaded for a year.

home•stead•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

home•stead  (hōm′sted, -stid), n. 

1. Government, Law a dwelling with its land and buildings, occupied by the owner as a home and exempted by a homestead law from seizure or sale for debt.
2. Government any dwelling with its land and buildings where a family makes its home.
3. Government a tract of land acquired under the Homestead Act.
4. Government a house in an urban area acquired under a homesteading program.

v.t. 

5. Government to acquire or settle on (land) as a homestead:
   Pioneers homesteaded the valley.

v.i. 

6. Government to acquire or settle on a homestead:
   They homesteaded many years ago.

• Old English hāmstede (not found in Middle English). See home, stead bef. 1000

Home•stead  (hōm′sted, -stid), n. 

1. Place Names a town in S Florida. 20,668.