village

noun

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

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.
Embark's DNA tests screens for more than 400 breeds of dog, including wild animals such as dingoes, coyotes, wolves and village dogs, helping owners of mixed breeds understand their pet's ancestry. Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025 Richard Gabriel Moritz | Unsplash Many readers will know this coastline—which arcs its way from the French border in the west to Tuscany in the east, via the ancient port city of Genoa—for the five absurdly picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre. Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 Nestled in the countryside near the picturesque village of Gordes, the 12-bedroom home offers striking mountain views along with a range of picturesque outdoor perks that include a heated pool, hammock, pétanque court, and an elegant garden. Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 17 Sep. 2025 In the remote Italian village of Scanno, 94-year-old Margherita Ciarletta is the only remaining connection to a lost way of life. Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Village.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/village. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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