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

The company pictured tales that might start in an Indian hamlet yet still frighten viewers in Seoul or São Paulo. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Nov. 2026

That dark period in the hamlet’s history supposedly ended with Jurek’s capture, give or take a few painful loose ends. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026

New York’s most iconic holiday landmark will be imported from a small hamlet in Upstate New York. — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2026

Tucked along the riverbank beside quiet hamlets, andBeyond Punakha River Lodge offers an uncommon sense of complete seclusion. — Luke Abrahams, Vogue, 27 Oct. 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