cozy

American  

[koh-zee] / ˈkoʊ zi /

Rarely cozie, or cosy

adjective

cozier, coziest

1. comfortable and snug.

   We live in a cozy little house with a small garden in the back.

   Synonyms:

   sheltered, homey, comfy, snug

2. convenient or beneficial, usually as a result of dishonesty or connivance.

   A very cozy agreement between competing firms had kept the industry profitable for years.

3. suggesting opportunistic or conspiratorial intimacy.

   The exposé revealed a cozy relationship between lobbyists and some politicians.

4. discreetly reticent or noncommittal.

   The administrators are remaining cozy about which policy they plan to adopt.

5. relating to a genre of mystery stories with little suspense, explicit violence, or sexual content, often also having amateur sleuths and idyllic, intimate settings.

   I read lots of different books, but I like cozy mysteries best.

   Charming characters and just the right amount of danger make this cozy series a delight to read.

---

noun

plural

cozies

1. a padded covering for a teapot or coffeepot to retain the heat of the contents.

2. a mystery story with little suspense, explicit violence, or sexual content, often also having amateur sleuths and idyllic, intimate settings.

   I started out reading cozies and moved on to the hard-boiled detective novels.

verb (used with object)

cozied, cozying

1. to make more warm or comfortable (often followed byup ).

   New curtains would cozy the room up a bit.

verb phrase

1. cozy up (to)

   1. to move closer for comfort or affection.

      Come over to the fire and cozy up a bit.

   2. to try to become friendly or intimate in order to further one's own ends; attempt to ingratiate oneself.

      He's always cozying up to the boss.

cozy British  

/ ˈkəʊzɪ /

adjective

1. the usual US spelling of cosy

---

Other Word Forms

• cozily adverb
• coziness noun

Etymology

Origin of cozy

First recorded in 1700–10; from Scots colsie, perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian koselig “cozy,” kose seg “to enjoy oneself”

Example Sentences

If it feels cozy in breakfast or snack territory, invite it there.More vegetables doesn’t have to mean more discipline.

From Salon

And then there are the Frog Lake huts themselves, which are modern and cozy, with heat, electricity, beds, bathrooms and a full kitchen.

From Los Angeles Times

Their friend Georgia Archer says the couple’s home “feels polished without trying to win an argument, beautiful but very cozy and livable, and very much ‘them.’”

From Los Angeles Times

Adjacent to the foyer is the living area, which features a cozy fireplace, dark wooden floors, and black French doors that allow natural light to flood inside.

From MarketWatch

It’s my first time downstairs, and it’s cozier than I expected.

From Literature

Related Words

• comfortable
• comfy
• cushy
• intimate
• snug