pied-à-terre
Americannoun
plural
pieds-à-terrenoun
Etymology
Origin of pied-à-terre
1820–30; < French: literally, foot on ground
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 couple split their time between their Bel-Air estate, their New York pied-à-terre and a seven-bedroom, circa-1930s beach house they owned in Malibu.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025
Mikhail acquired a pied-à-terre in Paris, where he felt he “ceased to be a tourist and became a human being.”
From Slate • Mar. 17, 2022
A few years ago, the brother was on the hunt for a pied-à-terre downtown, with its bustling arts and restaurant scene.
From New York Times • Nov. 13, 2020
He bought it eight years ago for $600,000, records show, and has been using the home as a pied-à-terre when he performs in L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2020
Exactly; and if we had a pied-à-terre close to the continent as you have, we should not like to stay away from home either—more than half the year.
From The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 3, October, 1851 by Various
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.
