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

At least 169 people were killed after insurgents raided a village in a remote area of South Sudan, a local official said Monday. —Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026

Once a sleepy fishing village, Rockport is growing, but still lures in anglers, artists, families, and nature lovers who like the slower pace. —Pam Leblanc, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026

Together with two orphans and a strong-willed young woman, the four embark on a journey from their fishing village to Ghana’s capital, Accra, to buy their own fishing boat. —Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026

Polling machines are set up in village halls, libraries, rec centers, and courthouses in various suburbs. —Lauren Victory, CBS News, 2 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