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

Union Jacks flap gently in the breeze; a golden slither of evening sun drapes a row of cottages; a red postbox, still bearing the initials of the late Queen, stands outside a village church, bathed in the fading light. —Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025

Currently there is a cottage at 1277; 1271 is a vacant lot. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025

From cozy cottages to impressive stone mansions, the best Airbnbs in Big Sur make for a great home base. —Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2025

Bonaire Resort-style Cabin Kit Robin Pekkala, an Allwood Outlet brand representative, told Travel + Leisure to think of the structures as additional space outside of your home that can be transformed into a guest cottage, pool house, art studio, yoga room, home office space, or even a music studio. —Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 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