cozy

1 of 3

adjective

co·​zy ˈkō-zē How to pronounce cozy (audio)
cozier; coziest
1
a
: enjoying or affording warmth and ease : snug
a cozy lakeside cabin
b
: marked by or providing contentment or comfort
won by a cozy margin
2
a
: marked by the intimacy of the family or a close group
We had a cozy dinner with the whole family.
b
: marked by or suggesting close association or connivance
a cozy agreement
His political opponents accused him of getting too cozy with powerful companies.
3
: marked by a discreet and cautious attitude or procedure
a cozy waiting game
cozily adverb
coziness noun

cozy

2 of 3

noun

plural cozies
1
: a padded covering especially for a teapot to keep the contents hot
2
: a light detective story that usually features a well-educated protagonist and little explicit violence

cozy

3 of 3

adverb

: in a cautious manner
… play it cozy and wait for the other team to make a mistake.Bobby Dodd
Choose the Right Synonym for cozy

comfortable, cozy, snug, easy, restful mean enjoying or providing a position of contentment and security.

comfortable applies to anything that encourages serenity, well-being, or complacency as well as physical ease.

started feeling comfortable in our new surroundings

cozy suggests warmth, shelter, assured ease, and friendliness.

a cozy neighborhood coffee shop

snug suggests having just enough space for comfort and safety but no more.

a snug little cottage

easy implies relief from or absence of anything likely to cause discomfort or constraint.

living in easy circumstances

restful applies to whatever induces or contributes to rest or relaxation.

a quiet restful vacation

Examples of cozy in a Sentence

Adjective The room was warm and cozy. We had a cozy dinner with the whole family. I spent a cozy evening reading in front of the fire. He claims that there is a cozy arrangement between the police and the drug dealers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
As the knives come out, DP Balthazar Lab gazes across variously flushed or nonplussed faces, lit by candlelight that becomes progressively less cozy with each passing minute. Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024 The 36 guest rooms are cozy, and the location near the city center is ideal. Chris Wallace, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2024 Hanna Andersson Long John Pajamas The best kids' pajamas should be durable, yet cozy. Maya Polton, Parents, 24 Mar. 2024 Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick are getting cozy on set! Sedgwick, 58, shared a new Instagram post on Friday, in which the married couple poses together on the set of Connescene. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024 Over the past couple of years, interiors have transitioned from stark, minimalist, and modern to cozy, inviting, and personalized. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2024 There would be cozy nights by the fireplaces, quiet morning walks through the gardens, and nights spent screening my favorite shows in the cinema. Rachel Dube, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024 We were hosted at the cozy Devil’s Thumb Ranch, which boasts about 6,500 acres. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 18 Mar. 2024 Fluffy scarves and snoods were wrapped around torsos, sometimes obscuring them in the process, not unlike cozy blankets, and similarly soft, nubby textures were found in shoes. Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
Rihanna, ever the fashion vanguard, shows us just how cool cozy can be. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2024 With Black Friday sales at full-blast, now's the time to add your favorite cozies to cart. Alex Apatoff, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 This budget-friendly brand offers a variety of comfy cozies, including nightgowns, robes, and matching pajama sets. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 10 Dec. 2023 Men can opt for a zip-front version of the same cardigan to get their cozy on while at sea. Brittany Chrusciel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2023 Costa Brazil Vela Candle There’s luxury, and then there’s a cozy a night in with Costa Brazil’s cult-favorite Vela candle burning. Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2023 Double the cozy with a complementary hoodie. Daria Smith, Southern Living, 3 June 2021 One picture shows a bollard covered in what amounts to a bollard cozy: a colorful knitted garment that slips over the bollard, transforming it into Queen Elizabeth II. John Kelly, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2021 Holmes and Robach's romance became public when photos of the two looking cozy surfaced in November 2022 while both parties were still married. Lanae Brody, Peoplemag, 10 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cozy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Noun, and Adverb

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian koselig cozy

First Known Use

Adjective

1709, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cozy was in 1709

Dictionary Entries Near cozy

Cite this Entry

“Cozy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cozy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cozy

1 of 2 adjective
co·​zy ˈkō-zē How to pronounce cozy (audio)
cozier; coziest
cozily adverb
coziness noun

cozy

2 of 2 noun
plural cozies
: a padded cover for a teapot used to keep the contents hot

More from Merriam-Webster on cozy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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