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

Outside the cottage, the characters remain hyper-aware of who might be watching. —Chris Dong, USA Today, 27 Dec. 2025

Sorry to be such a real-estate-hungry bisexual, but this cottage looks even better at night. —Emma Specter, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2025

The season finale, instead, ends with Shane and Ilya's car ride back to their private cottage, which plays out as the end credits roll. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025

The Rooms Our 1,250-square-foot lakeside cottage felt like an overnight in a friend’s chic mountain chalet. —T.j. Olwig, Travel + Leisure, 26 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