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cottagecore

American  
[kot-ij-kawr] / ˈkɒt ɪdʒˌkɔr /

noun

  1. an aesthetic or imagery inspired by an old-fashioned, rural lifestyle, characterized by rustic décor and fashion, a revival of traditional handicrafts, etc..

    For many, cottagecore can seem like a respite in our overstimulated world.


Etymology

Origin of cottagecore

First recorded in 2015–20; cottage ( def. ) + -core ( def. ), from its supposed invocation of the charm of the English countryside and its cottages

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.

See Examples For:

Young people thrifting clothes as they embrace their Y2K or cottagecore aesthetics have helped secondhand shopping shed its stigma, turning it into a trend, not a necessity.

From MarketWatch Nov. 19, 2025

Brown has found that adhering to her vintage and cottagecore aesthetic allows her flexibility “as long as the treasures and art I choose to display stay within that,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 4, 2025

Since she couldn’t take her baby on foraging trips, she decided to do the next best thing: turn her nursery into a mushroom-themed, cottagecore haven.

From Seattle Times Mar. 26, 2023

Where cottagecore is fields of edible wildflowers, goblincore is darkened forest floors covered with slick mud, knotted moss — and, of course, mushrooms.

From Salon Dec. 27, 2022

The early days of the pandemic saw an increase in interest in the "cottagecore" aesthetic.

From Salon Dec. 27, 2022

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