village

noun

vil·​lage ˈvi-lij How to pronounce village (audio)
Synonyms of villagenext
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

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Zouaghi’s pursuit for local flair is what led him to Dean Village, a 12th-century milling village chock-full of medieval charm just 15 minutes from the city bustle. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026 Parents at evacuation centers in the village said many children were afraid to return indoors and woke up frightened whenever aftershocks rattled the island. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 The mayor was grazed by a bullet while seeking safety with others in the restaurant, the village said. — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 The damage extends to the village’s company store, which was the backdrop for character Peeta Mellark’s family bakery in the popular 2012 movie, WJZY first reported in late July. — Simone Jasper, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for village

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of village was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing village

Rhymes for village

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Browse Nearby Words

villadom
village
village cart
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Cite this Entry

“Village.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/village. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

village

noun
vil·​lage ˈvil-ij How to pronounce village (audio)
1
: a place somewhat smaller than a town
2
: the people living in a village

More from Merriam-Webster on village

Nglish: Translation of village for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about village

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