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

In the film, Tomnikov plays a 30-something trauma survivor named Heloisa who arrives at a summer cottage with her new boyfriend and discovers that her boyfriend’s mother, a woman named Anu, is her former psychotherapist with whom Heloisa had fallen out. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025

Scenic designer Yi-Chien Lee has created a fairy tale-like cottage in The Dottie, a space with comfy seats, great sightlines and a cozy, intimate feel that’s just right for this play. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025

Suddenly, Larrea’s wedding plans were thrown into limbo amid uncertainty over whether the National Park would keep the cottage open. —Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025

Borve The kind of home that lowers your blood pressure, this cottage for two sits close to the shoreline within the Scottish Highlands, away from the bustle of the cities. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Oct. 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