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

The Rooms The resort has 163 guest accommodations, including suites, spacious cottages, villas, and estate homes located on the surrounding blocks of the property. —Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026

Located northeast of Providenciales, the private island resort has just 13 rooms in total, including 11 beachfront rooms and two beach cottages, plus a small collection of private homes available to rent. —Annie Daly, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2026

The Mountain Campus features pastures, hills, lakes, log cabins, an old mill, and hiking trails leading to the House O’ Dreams, a large stone and board-and-batten cottage on top of Lavender Mountain. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026

The neat redwood cottages were well maintained. —Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 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