cozy

1 of 3

adjective

co·​zy ˈkō-zē 

cozier; coziest

1

a

: enjoying or affording warmth and ease : snug

a cozy lakeside cabin

b

: marked by or providing contentment or comfort

won by a cozy margin

2

a

: marked by the intimacy of the family or a close group

We had a cozy dinner with the whole family.

b

: marked by or suggesting close association or connivance

a cozy agreement

His political opponents accused him of getting too cozy with powerful companies.

3

: marked by a discreet and cautious attitude or procedure

a cozy waiting game

cozily

ˈkō-zə-lē 

adverb

coziness

ˈkō-zē-nəs 

noun

cozy

2 of 3

noun

plural cozies

1

: a padded covering especially for a teapot to keep the contents hot

2

: a light detective story that usually features a well-educated protagonist and little explicit violence

cozy

3 of 3

adverb

: in a cautious manner

… play it cozy and wait for the other team to make a mistake.

—Bobby Dodd

Synonyms of cozy

Adjective

• comfortable
• relaxed

Choose the Right Synonym for cozy

comfortable, cozy, snug, easy, restful mean enjoying or providing a position of contentment and security.

comfortable applies to anything that encourages serenity, well-being, or complacency as well as physical ease.

started feeling comfortable in our new surroundings

cozy suggests warmth, shelter, assured ease, and friendliness.

a cozy neighborhood coffee shop

snug suggests having just enough space for comfort and safety but no more.

a snug little cottage

easy implies relief from or absence of anything likely to cause discomfort or constraint.

living in easy circumstances

restful applies to whatever induces or contributes to rest or relaxation.

a quiet restful vacation

Examples of cozy in a Sentence

Adjective

The room was warm and cozy.

We had a cozy dinner with the whole family.

I spent a cozy evening reading in front of the fire.

He claims that there is a cozy arrangement between the police and the drug dealers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In New York, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce head for a cozy date night at The Polo Bar as Russell and Ciara Wilson attend a special screening of Sarah's Oil. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025

The entire cabin sleeps six and features indoor fireplaces and an outdoor fire pit for extra cozy stargazing at night. —Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 6 Nov. 2025

Noun

The top markdowns in clothing include half off a pair of cool Dickies cargo pants, a lightweight half-zip sweatshirt from Mountain Hardwear, and a cozy The North Face midlayer. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 1 Nov. 2025

Not to mention, from jeans and skirts to hoodies and sweaters, oversized clothing is on the rise – looking and feeling comfortable and cozy has never been so in vogue. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Noun, and Adverb

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian koselig cozy

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1946, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cozy

• cozy up

Rhymes for cozy

• cosy
• josie
• nosey
• nosy
• rosy
• pharmacognosy

Kids Definition

cozy

1 of 2 adjective

co·​zy ˈkō-zē 

cozier; coziest

: snug entry 2 sense 2, comfortable

cozily

-zə-lē 

adverb

coziness

-zē-nəs 

noun

cozy

2 of 2 noun

plural cozies

: a padded cover for a teapot used to keep the contents hot