villa

¹ American  

[vil-uh] / ˈvɪl ə /

noun

1. a country residence or estate.

2. any imposing or pretentious residence, especially one in the country or suburbs maintained as a retreat by a wealthy person.

3. British. a detached or semidetached dwelling house, usually suburban.

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Villa ² American  

[vee-uh, vee-yah] / ˈvi ə, ˈvi yɑ /

noun

1. Francisco Doroteo ArangoPancho Villa, 1877–1923, Mexican general and revolutionist.

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villa ¹ British  

/ ˈvɪlə /

noun

1. (in ancient Rome) a country house, usually consisting of farm buildings and residential quarters around a courtyard

2. a large and usually luxurious country residence

3. a detached or semidetached suburban house

4. a medium-sized suburban house standing in its own grounds

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Villa ² British  

/ ˈviːə, ˈbiʎa /

noun

1. Francisco (franˈsisko), called Pancho Villa, original name Doroteo Arango. ?1877–1923, Mexican revolutionary leader

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Other Word Forms

• villa-like adjective
• villalike adjective

Etymology

Origin of villa

1605–15; (< Italian ) < Latin vīlla a country house, farm, akin to vīcus village, wick ³

Example Sentences

Footage of the arrest was released by the Carabinieri, showing heavily armed officers entering the villa.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

In the area around a bridge west of Tehran that was targeted by the United States, an AFP reporter saw a villa and residential buildings with blown-out windows, but no military installations.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

You can call one of them like an Italian villa, and then there’s a couple other ones that are near the water that are going to be more modern.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

At their home, a large one-story villa off a dirt road leading to the town’s main street, Scott introduces me to a lifestyle designed to promote wellness.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

Once there, he became so feeble and frail that he could barely leave the villa they had rented.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman