village

noun

vil·​lage ˈvi-lij 

often attributive

1

a

: a settlement usually larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town

b

: an incorporated minor municipality

2

: the residents of a village

3

: something (such as an aggregation of burrows or nests) suggesting a village

4

: a territorial area having the status of a village especially as a unit of local government

Synonyms

• bourg
• hamlet
• townlet
• vill
• whistle-stop

Examples of village in a Sentence

Entire villages come to see the parade.

we stayed in a charming bed-and-breakfast in a lakeside village

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s set in a Norwegian village under German occupation during the Second World War. —The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2025

In 2018, developer Rick Caruso opened the 125,000-square-foot Palisades Village shopping center in the heart of town, which put a new, decidedly upscale spin for anyone looking for a stroll through the village. —Peter Kiefer, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025

Our villages, our people, showing up for each other is what really counts. —Kate Lavelle, Glamour, 31 Jan. 2025

So the resort encourages off-property trips to connect with area residents about local lifestyle habits in an Indigenous Boruca village or a hike in nearby Corcovado National Park. —Devorah Lev-Tov, AFAR Media, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French vilage, from vil manorial estate, farmstead, from Latin villa

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing village

• global village
• inter-village
• Potemkin village

Kids Definition

village

noun

vil·​lage ˈvil-ij 

1

: a place somewhat smaller than a town

2

: the people living in a village