villa
noun
a country residence or estate.
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villa
1 American
[vil-uh]
/ ˈvɪl ə /
noun
-
a country residence or estate.
-
any imposing or pretentious residence, especially one in the country or suburbs maintained as a retreat by a wealthy person.
-
British. a detached or semidetached dwelling house, usually suburban.
Villa
2
American
[vee-uh, vee-yah]
/ ˈvi ə, ˈvi yɑ /
noun
villa
1
British
/ ˈvɪlə /
noun
-
(in ancient Rome) a country house, usually consisting of farm buildings and residential quarters around a courtyard
-
a large and usually luxurious country residence
-
a detached or semidetached suburban house
-
a medium-sized suburban house standing in its own grounds
Villa
2
British
/ ˈviːə, ˈbiʎa /
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of villa
1605–15; (< Italian ) < Latin vīlla a country house, farm, akin to vīcus village, wick 3
Explanation
If you don't want to sound like a snob, don't describe your family's house in the country as a villa. A villa is a fancy vacation home. Calling your weekend country house a villa will inevitably sound like you're showing off. Still, the word has been around ever since ancient Roman times to mean "country house for the elite." In Italian, villa means "country house or farm." Most villas include a large amount of land and often barns, garages, or other outbuildings as well.
Vocabulary lists containing villa
Ancient Rome - Introductory
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Ancient Rome - Middle School and High School
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The Roman Republic, Lessons 3–4
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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.
Unlike Europa League winners Aston Villa, who admittedly exited both domestic cups earlier than Newcastle, Howe's men struggled with the challenge of fighting on multiple fronts for so much of the season.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
On the upside, Opta did have Aston Villa finishing fifth, but then it also thought Manchester United would end up 12th.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
Emery's perfectionist streak makes his management of Villa a work of art, with work-rate, organisation and talent making for a top-class team.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
Fans also needed a TNT subscription to watch Aston Villa win the Europa League final last week, and the same will apply to the Conference League final between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.
From BBC • May 23, 2026
“At the Villa Rossa. It was very edifying, baby. We all sang. Where have you been?”
From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
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.
