hamlet

1 of 2

noun (1)

ham·​let ˈham-lət 

: a small village

Hamlet

2 of 2

noun (2)

Ham·​let ˈham-lət 

: a legendary Danish prince and hero of Shakespeare's play Hamlet

Synonyms of hamlet

Noun (1)

• village

Examples of hamlet in a Sentence

Noun (1)

she always longed to return to the quiet hamlet where she had been born

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But the couple were happy in their little cottage in the small hamlet of Lee-on-the-Solent, which Leigh decorated in her famously romantic style. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026

Fewer than 500 people live in this Platte County hamlet of crisscrossing family lines and where church ties and friendships date back generations. — Glenn Rice, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

While just 133 people live in Kimmswick, Missouri today, the tiny hamlet is perfect for a classic weekend getaway. — Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026

Much of the pretty rural Georgia hamlet of Gay is coming up for sale soon. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French hamelet, diminutive of ham village, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English hām village, home

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1601, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hamlet

noun

ham·​let ˈham-lət 

: a small village