cottage

noun

cot·​tage ˈkä-tij 

1

: the dwelling of a farm laborer or small farmer

2

: a usually small frame one-family house

3

: a small detached dwelling unit at an institution

4

: a usually small house for vacation use

cottagey

ˈkä-ti-jē 

adjective

Synonyms

• cabin

Examples of cottage in a Sentence

We rented a cottage for the weekend.

She owns a cottage at the beach.

Recent Examples on the Web

Along with six standard guest rooms, the resort features 28 cottages, with two designed by Frank Lloyd Wright protégé John Rattenbury. —Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2025

One editor said that this style of cottage felt like a standard cottage cheese, with a nice variety of curd sizes, standard level of saltiness, and mild but pleasant level of tang. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2025

The two find a temporary haven in the gardener’s cottage – the former living quarters of Marilyn Thornhill (Christina Ricci). —Daron James, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025

Morticia has remade the gardener’s cottage in her image. —Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cotage "holding of a free peasant, the peasant's dwelling on such a holding," borrowed from Anglo-French, "tenure of a free peasant owing rent to a lord, rent paid for such a holding," probably from Middle English cot or cote "dwelling of a rural laborer, hut" + Anglo-French -age -age — more at cot entry 1, cote entry 1

Note: Regarding the status of such a holding, see note at cottar.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cottage

• Cape Cod cottage
• cottage cheese
• cottage curtains
• cottage hospital
• cottage industry
• cottage pie
• cottage pudding
• cottage tulip
• tied cottage

Rhymes for cottage

• pottage
• wattage

Kids Definition

cottage

noun

cot·​tage ˈkät-ij 

1

: a small one-family house

2

: a small house for vacation use