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
Besides a Manhattan pied-à-terre, there was a retreat on the French Riviera, a lavish Paris apartment and a condo in Hawaii.
From New York Times • May 20, 2024
Oxman and his wife, artist Laney K. Oxman, live in Virginia and planned to renovate the apartment to use as a pied-à-terre.
From Washington Post • Jul. 22, 2021
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
In other words, it had become a pied-à-terre.
From A Boswell of Baghdad With Diversions by Lucas, E. V. (Edward Verrall)
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.
