village

noun

vil·​lage ˈvi-lij 

often attributive

1

a

: a settlement usually larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town

b

: an incorporated minor municipality

2

: the residents of a village

3

: something (such as an aggregation of burrows or nests) suggesting a village

4

: a territorial area having the status of a village especially as a unit of local government

Synonyms of village

• hamlet

Examples of village in a Sentence

Entire villages come to see the parade.

we stayed in a charming bed-and-breakfast in a lakeside village

Recent Examples on the Web

But Magyar, a former Fidesz insider who has won over voters angered at a lack of growth, failing public services and a series of graft and child protection scandals, has built his brand with tours of town and village squares. —Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026

Our guide took them to visit some of the local craft markets and villages. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026

One way could involve collaborating with the village and the Winnetka Police Department to issue citations to dog-owning scofflaws and handle them locally. —Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026

Mortar shells fired from Pakistan overnight struck villages in Khost Province and destroyed several homes, said Mustaghfar Gurbaz, a spokesperson for the provincial governor. —ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French vilage, from vil manorial estate, farmstead, from Latin villa

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing village

• global village
• inter-village
• Potemkin village

Rhymes for village

• millage
• pillage
• spillage

Kids Definition

village

noun

vil·​lage ˈvil-ij 

1

: a place somewhat smaller than a town

2

: the people living in a village