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noun Uncommon

hamlet

HAM-liht
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Hamlet (noun) means a very small settlement, smaller than a village, often just a cluster of houses without its own church or local government. Example: “The road wound through a tiny hamlet of no more than a dozen cottages.”

noun
1
A very small settlement, smaller than a village, often just a cluster of houses without its own church or local government.
"No, no. It's a cute little town. Actually, I think they call it a "hamlet." That's how cute it is." — Sam Esmail, Rumaan Alam (2023)
"The road wound through a tiny hamlet of no more than a dozen cottages."
"They spent the night in a quiet hamlet in the Cotswolds."
"The hamlet has no shop, no pub and only one narrow road."

How to use hamlet

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA tiny settlement, smaller than a village.

Common mistake

Capitalized "Hamlet" refers to Shakespeare's Danish prince and his famous play — a different word entirely from the lowercase settlement.

Common pairings
a small hamlet a sleepy hamlet a remote hamlet
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Word forms

Plural
hamlets
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The road wound through a tiny _____ of no more than a dozen cottages.

Etymology

From Old French hamelet, a diminutive of hamel, itself a diminutive of ham ("home, village"), ultimately from the same Germanic root as the English word "home."

Origin: Old French

Synonyms

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village settlement crossroads

Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What does “hamlet” mean?
The word “hamlet” means a very small settlement, smaller than a village, often just a cluster of houses without its own church or local government. In plain terms, a tiny settlement, smaller than a village.
How do you pronounce “hamlet”?
“Hamlet” is pronounced HAM-liht (/ˈhæm.lət/ in IPA).
How do you use “hamlet” in a sentence?
Here is “hamlet” used in a sentence: “The road wound through a tiny hamlet of no more than a dozen cottages.”
What part of speech is “hamlet”?
“Hamlet” is a noun.
Where does the word “hamlet” come from?
The word “hamlet” comes from Old French. From Old French hamelet, a diminutive of hamel, itself a diminutive of ham ("home, village"), ultimately from the same Germanic root as the English word "home.".
Is “hamlet” a common word?
“Hamlet” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a hamlet and a village?
A hamlet is smaller than a village and typically consists of just a cluster of houses, often lacking its own church or local government, whereas a village usually has both. Size and the presence of local institutions are the main distinguishing factors.
Does a hamlet have its own local government?
No, a hamlet is generally too small to have its own church or local government, distinguishing it from larger settlements like villages that typically do.
Is a hamlet the same as Shakespeare's Hamlet?
No, the lowercase noun "hamlet" describing a very small settlement is unrelated to "Hamlet," the capitalized name of Shakespeare's famous play and title character; the two are simply spelled and pronounced the same way.

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