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

Accessibility Ground floor cottages and suites, along with the pools, bar, and restaurant, are accessible by wheelchair. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026

The resort’s 158 rooms, suites, and beachfront cottages deliver ocean views and lodging options for families big and small. — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 18 July 2026

City commissioners will decide on Thursday whether to sell the white wood-frame cottage, which is currently leased by the Dade Historic Trust. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026

The Luiseño Indigenous people bathed in the springs’ mineral waters since time immemorial, and one of the site’s first owners, Fritz Guenther, built a bathhouse and a couple of cottages there in 1902—essentially, the area’s first wellness resort. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 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