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

There's a wellness center—located in a cozy cottage near the tip of the pool—with a small but high-tech gym and treatment rooms for facials and massages from Onda Beauty. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026

The Elder Statesman Commune Design transformed a West Hollywood cottage into an indoor-outdoor environment for the designer Greg Chait’s cashmere pieces. — John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2026

Set in the summer of 1970, the story turns on the diligent civil servant Heikki who decides to host a high-ranking Soviet diplomat at his family’s lakeside cottage. — Annika Pham, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

The Islamorada cottage drew 60,000 social media views in days — and helped fuel a tourism wave worth tens of millions to the Keys. — Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 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