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

More rocks, less sand Recently, Crystal Cove State Park resembled a construction zone, with crews working around the clock to form large sand berms to protect historic wooden cottages clustered on sand between the ocean and highway. — Cindy Carcamo, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Nov. 2026

And that means looking beyond the traditional single-family house to a wide mix of options, such as apartments, townhomes, smaller accessible homes and accessory dwelling units like spaces above garages or backyard cottages. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026

Picket Fence Bakery is a cottage operation that Blake runs from her Orlando home. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

Gatcombe Park has become a true family compound, with Peter Phillips and his family reportedly having a cottage there. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 29 Oct. 2026

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