villa
noun
a country residence or estate.
villa
1 American
[vil-uh]
/ ˈvɪl ə /
noun
villas
plural
-
a country residence or estate.
-
any imposing or pretentious residence, especially one in the country or suburbs maintained as a retreat by a wealthy person.
-
British. a detached or semidetached dwelling house, usually suburban.
Villa
2
American
[vee-uh, vee-yah]
/ ˈvi ə, ˈvi jɑ /
noun
villa
1
British
/ ˈvɪlə /
noun
-
(in ancient Rome) a country house, usually consisting of farm buildings and residential quarters around a courtyard
-
a large and usually luxurious country residence
-
a detached or semidetached suburban house
-
a medium-sized suburban house standing in its own grounds
Villa
2
British
/ ˈviːə, ˈbiʎa /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of villa
1605–15; (< Italian ) < Latin vīlla a country house, farm, akin to vīcus village, wick 3
Explanation
If you don't want to sound like a snob, don't describe your family's house in the country as a villa. A villa is a fancy vacation home. Calling your weekend country house a villa will inevitably sound like you're showing off. Still, the word has been around ever since ancient Roman times to mean "country house for the elite." In Italian, villa means "country house or farm." Most villas include a large amount of land and often barns, garages, or other outbuildings as well.
Vocabulary lists containing villa
Ancient Rome - Introductory
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Ancient Rome - Middle School and High School
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The Roman Republic, Lessons 3–4
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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:
Business owner Lorenzo, who entered the villa on day one, said he felt like he "manifested" meeting Julia, 26, in Casa Amor, the alternate villa where relationships are tested by new arrivals.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
When a gay American man arrives to archive her art collection, he’s pulled along by a romance and a deeper mystery at the villa.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Since leaving the villa together, “Nicolandria” have taken their relationship into the real world, to Glamour Magazine and to numerous brand deals.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
It is a popular area with British families for its sandy beaches, and Villa Francisca, a two-bedroom villa, is described on booking websites as "an ideal choice for a family holiday in the sun".
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Some important guests had arrived unexpectedly, and she had had to entertain them in a remote part of the villa.
From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks
United have already spent £83m to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
Many of Rogers' best moments at Villa were in the inside-left channel.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery gave Rogers a major role in the side's recent successes, something that contributed to his hefty transfer fee.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
From next season, Chelsea will play all home WSL fixtures at Stamford Bridge, joining Arsenal, Aston Villa and Everton in committing to home venues with improved transport links and better facilities.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
I stopped in front of the Villa Rossa.
From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump announced plans to construct luxury hotels and villas in Albania back in 2024.
From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026
They stay in hotels on the beach and villas in the surrounding countryside, and walk through the small shops and restaurants, looking for parties where they can network and be seen.
From Salon ● May 22, 2026
The property contains 16 villas with more than 100 bedrooms, as well as a standalone 10-acre estate set aside for high-end stays and brand activations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2026
Emails reveal the wealthy taking proxy measures of one another’s yachts and villas, showboating their riches in ways that make Tom Wolfe’s “Bonfire of the Vanities” look like a genteel glimpse into society mores.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026
But as an aspiring architect, she couldn’t help admiring the terraced gardens, the fountains and temples, the winding cobblestone streets and gleaming white villas.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
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.
