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

• 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 property now includes the winery, a restaurant serving lunch and dinner, and a historic inn with guest cottages. —Brennan Long, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025

The English country estate-style cottage features six bedrooms, a craft room, and a pet-washing station. —Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025

Bring a touch of playful cottage style with a wall shelf painted a bright color and equipped with pegs for hanging everything from art to hats. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2025

Wildflower Farms is a sprawling estate of 65 freestanding cabins and cottages, with common areas, like a massive open-air porch, peppered throughout for plenty of room to stretch out in. —Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 1 Oct. 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