village
n.-
1 rural settlement (n.) A1 Beginnera small group of houses and buildings in the countryside.
a small human settlement in a rural area, typically larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town.
ExampleThey live in a quiet village where everyone knows their neighbours.
ExampleThe remote village was accessible only by a narrow winding road that became impassable during the heavy winter snows.
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2 planned community (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate American English British Englisha group of buildings designed for a specific purpose, like a retirement home or shopping area.
a planned residential or commercial community, such as a retirement village or a themed shopping district.
ExampleMy grandparents moved into a retirement village where they have medical support.
ExampleThe developers designed the Olympic village to be converted into affordable housing once the international competition concluded.
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3 gated community (n.) C1 Advanced Formal Dialecta private, often expensive, area of houses with a gate or security.
an exclusive, often gated, residential subdivision or housing development.
ExampleThe family lives in a luxury village with a private security guard at the entrance.
ExampleThe expansion of exclusive gated villages has created a stark physical divide between different socio-economic groups in the city.
Teacher's tipThis sense is particularly common in the Philippines and parts of South Asia to describe upscale residential areas.
- subdivision
- gated community
From Middle English village, from Old French village, from Latin villāticus, ultimately from Latin villa (English villa). Broadly overtook Old English wic, þorp, and ham. The Philippine sense is due to its frequent use in the names of gated communities.