village

noun

vil·​lage ˈvi-lij 

often attributive

1

a

: a settlement usually larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town

b

: an incorporated minor municipality

2

: the residents of a village

3

: something (such as an aggregation of burrows or nests) suggesting a village

4

: a territorial area having the status of a village especially as a unit of local government

Synonyms of village

• hamlet

Examples of village in a Sentence

Entire villages come to see the parade.

we stayed in a charming bed-and-breakfast in a lakeside village

Recent Examples on the Web

Being a willing pair of hands led Owen to a small village in the middle of Wales, working on a senior graduation project, and that on-the-ground, very-on-location work has stood her in good stead since. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2026

The village’s efforts to preserve one of Mexico’s most iconic celebrations often draw these tourists searching for authentic experiences. — Rocio Muñoz Ledo, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2026

The Organization and Guidance Department, the party’s most powerful agency, oversees appointments, inspections, and discipline everywhere—in Pyongyang as well as rural villages. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026

Born in the West Bank village of Jifna in 1944, Alexander Michel Odeh attended Cairo University, then was unable to return to his homeland in 1967 due to Israel’s occupation. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French vilage, from vil manorial estate, farmstead, from Latin villa

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing village

• global village
• inter-village
• Potemkin village

Rhymes for village

• millage
• pillage
• spillage

Kids Definition

village

noun

vil·​lage ˈvil-ij 

1

: a place somewhat smaller than a town

2

: the people living in a village