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

The warning applies to residents of 11 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, according to Reuters, telling them to evacuate their homes and move at least 3,300 feet away to open areas. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 4 May 2026

Italy is not a monolith, but is made up of many tiny, charming towns, glamorous cities, and villages dotting the map along the way. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026

Twenty-five dance companies from across Africa descended on a Senegalese fishing village over the weekend for the African Dance Biennial, the continent’s largest showcase of contemporary African dance. —ABC News, 4 May 2026

Acting village manager Paul Dalen said Village Board members have frequently voiced their willingness to engage with residents and address their concerns. —Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 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