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 of cottage

• 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

Finish it with wood siding to create your own miniature cabin, install vinyl or cedar shake siding to transform it into a quaint cottage, or add a simple coat of exterior paint to match your color scheme. —Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2025

Sanders resided for 20-plus years near Jane Austen’s House — a museum that preserves the cottage in the county of Hampshire where the author once lived and wrote her novels. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025

With lawns, herb gardens, ballrooms and waterfront dune cottages, the resort can host lavish ceremonies of any size. —Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025

The other, simplifying the standards for permitting backyard cottages throughout the county, passed 29-8, with Webb, Eslick, Weiner, Druffel, Johnston, Benton, Ellis and Styles again opposed. —Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Dec. 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