pied-à-terre
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pied-à-terre
1820–30; < French: literally, foot on ground
Explanation
When your friend talks about his pied-a-terre in the city, it's just his fancy way of mentioning the apartment he keeps there to stay in from time to time. This borrowing from French, literally "foot on ground," designates a small second home. Dictionaries are in general content to stop their explanation of the origins of pied-a-terre by simply translating it, as if this were sufficient to explain how it inherited this meaning. On the other hand, it would hardly be a home if you didn't have your foot on the ground there some time.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The sister act also owned a pied-à-terre in Manhattan.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed new details about her proposal to tax New York City’s second homes, including that she expects fewer homes would be subjected to this pied-à-terre tax than her previous estimate.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
His budget would be $127 billion funded in part by the pied-à-terre tax which is expected to move ahead.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
The mayor will still pursue a targeted pied-à-terre tax on second homes worth $5 million or more and other revenue streams.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
If you cannot give any pied-à-terre in the Palace for these few hours, they will remain in an hotel.
From The Letters of Queen Victoria : A Selection from Her Majesty's Correspondence between the Years 1837 and 1861 Volume 1, 1837-1843 by Esher, Reginald Baliol Brett, Viscount
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
