village
VIH-lihj
Village (noun) means a small community of houses, smaller than a town, typically in a rural area. Example: “Every summer the village holds a fair on the green.”
noun
1
A small community of houses, smaller than a town, typically in a rural area.
"Every summer the village holds a fair on the green."
"The village had one pub, a church, and a small shop."
"They grew up in a tiny fishing village on the coast."
2
A self-contained residential development built around a theme, such as a retirement village or shopping village.
"My grandparents moved into a retirement village near the coast."
"They bought a flat in a holiday village with its own pool."
"The new shopping village has cafes, craft stalls and free parking."
How to use village
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small place where people live, bigger than a hamlet but smaller than a town.
Common pairings
a small village
village life
village green
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Word forms
- Plural
- villages
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Every summer the _____ holds a fair on the green.
Etymology
From Old French village, from Latin vīllāticus, related to villa.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for village
See all rhymes for village →Frequently asked questions
What does “village” mean?
The word “village” means a small community of houses, smaller than a town, typically in a rural area. In plain terms, a small place where people live, bigger than a hamlet but smaller than a town.
How do you pronounce “village”?
“Village” is pronounced VIH-lihj (/ˈvɪlɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “village” in a sentence?
Here is “village” used in a sentence: “The village had one pub, a church, and a small shop.”
What is another word for “village”?
Words with a similar meaning to “village” include thorp.
What part of speech is “village”?
“Village” is a noun.
Where does the word “village” come from?
The word “village” comes from Latin. From Old French village, from Latin vīllāticus, related to villa.
Is “village” a common word?
“Village” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “village” have?
“Village” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small community of houses, smaller than a town, typically in a rural area.
What is the difference between a village and a town?
The main differences are size and services. A village is a small rural settlement with relatively few houses and limited amenities, often just a shop, pub, or church. A town is larger and more developed, with shops, schools, and its own local government. Villages usually depend on nearby towns for bigger services.
What is the difference between a village and a hamlet?
A hamlet is even smaller than a village. It is a tiny cluster of houses with almost no shared amenities and, traditionally, no church. A village is larger and usually has a focal point such as a church, shop, or green. In short, hamlets are the smallest rural settlements of all.
How many people live in a village?
There is no fixed figure, and definitions vary by country. Broadly, a village holds anywhere from a hundred to a few thousand residents — larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town. What matters as much as population is its rural character and limited range of local services.
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