House vs. Cottage: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 6, 2023
A house is a general term for a dwelling place; a cottage is a small, cozy dwelling, often in a rural setting.
Key Differences
A house represents a broader category of living structures where individuals or families dwell. It's a generic term that encompasses many types of residential buildings, irrespective of their size, design, or location. On the other hand, a cottage typically signifies a smaller, often charming dwelling, commonly associated with countryside or vacation areas.
In urban landscapes, one might predominantly encounter houses—from large mansions to modest single-family homes. While the word doesn't dictate a particular style or size, it does suggest a primary residence. Conversely, the term cottage often evokes images of quaint homes, nestled amid nature, serving as either primary residences in rural areas or as vacation getaways.
The historical contexts of these terms are also distinct. In earlier times, a house could be any residence—from a peasant's abode to a noble's mansion. However, the cottage has its roots in the English countryside, referring to a small home, often inhabited by workers and their families, with a close connection to the surrounding land.
A house can be found almost anywhere in the world, adjusted and styled according to the region's culture, climate, and architectural trends. But a cottage, with its intimate feel and often rustic appearance, conveys a sense of retreat, simplicity, and closeness to nature—even if it's situated in a modern setting.
Comparison Chart
General Definition
A building for human habitation
A small, simple house, typically in a rural or holiday spot
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Size & Complexity
Varies, can be small to large
Typically small and cozy
Location
Found everywhere, urban to rural
Often associated with countryside or vacation areas
Usage
Primary residence
Can be primary, vacation, or weekend retreat
Historical Context
Generic term for dwelling
Originated in English countryside, worker homes
House and Cottage Definitions
House
A legislative or deliberative assembly.
The bill passed in the House of Representatives.
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Cottage
A small simple house, typically in the countryside.
We spent the weekend at a cottage by the lake.
House
A structure serving as a dwelling for one or more persons, especially for a family.
Cottage
A small vacation home.
We rented a beach cottage for the summer.
House
A household or family.
Cottage
A small home with a single story.
They moved into a two-bedroom cottage after retiring.
House
Something, such as a burrow or shell, that serves as a shelter or habitation for a wild animal.
Cottage
A small, single-storied house, especially in the country.
House
A dwelling for a group of people, such as students or members of a religious community, who live together as a unit
A sorority house.
Cottage
A usually small vacation house.
House
A building that functions as the primary shelter or location of something
A carriage house.
The lion house at the zoo.
Cottage
A small house.
House
A building devoted to a particular activity
A customs house.
A house of worship.
Cottage
A seasonal home of any size or stature, a recreational home or a home in a remote location.
Most cottages in the area were larger and more elaborate than my home.
House
A facility, such as a theater or restaurant, that provides entertainment or food for the public
A movie house.
The specialty of the house.
Cottage
A public lavatory.
House
The seating area in such an establishment
Dimmed the lights in the house to signal the start of the show.
Cottage
(Polari) A meeting place for homosexual men.
House
The audience or patrons of such an establishment
A full house.
Cottage
To stay at a seasonal home, to go cottaging.
House
A commercial firm
A brokerage house.
Cottage
To have homosexual sex in a public lavatory; to practice cottaging.
House
A publishing company
A house that specializes in cookbooks.
Cottage
A small house; a cot; a hut.
House
A gambling casino.
Cottage
A small house with a single story
House
(Slang) A house of prostitution.
Cottage
A dwelling forming part of a farm establishment.
The farm's workers live in those cottages.
House
A residential college within a university.
Cottage
A term for a type of small-scale production.
She runs a cottage industry making handcrafted jewelry.
House
Often House A legislative or deliberative assembly.
House
The hall or chamber in which such an assembly meets.
House
A quorum of such an assembly.
House
Often House A family line including ancestors and descendants, especially a royal or noble family
The House of Orange.
House
One of the 12 parts into which the heavens are divided in astrology.
House
The sign of the zodiac indicating the seat or station of a planet in the heavens. Also called mansion.
House
House music.
House
To provide living quarters for; lodge
The cottage housed ten students.
House
To shelter, keep, or store in a house or other structure
A library housing rare books.
House
To fit (something) into a socket or mortise.
House
(Nautical) To secure or stow safely.
House
To reside; dwell.
House
To take shelter.
House
A structure built or serving as an abode of human beings.
This is my house and my family's ancestral home.
House
An apartment building within a public housing estate.
House
(uncountable) Size and quality of residential accommodations.
House
A building intended to contain a single household, as opposed to an apartment or condominium or building containing these.
House
The people who live in a house; a household.
House
A building used for something other than a residence (typically with qualifying word).
The former carriage house had been made over into a guest house.
On arriving at the zoo, we immediately headed for the monkey house.
House
A place of business; a company or organisation, especially a printing press, a publishing company, or a couturier.
A small publishing house would have a contract with an independent fulfillment house.
House
A place of public accommodation or entertainment, especially a public house, an inn, a restaurant, a theatre, or a casino; or the management thereof.
One more, sir, then I'll have to stop serving you – rules of the house, I'm afraid.
The house always wins.
House
(historical) A workhouse.
House
The audience for a live theatrical or similar performance.
House
A theatre.
After her swan-song, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
House
(politics) A building where a deliberative assembly meets; whence the assembly itself, particularly a component of a legislature.
The petition was so ridiculous that the house rejected it after minimal debate.
House
A dynasty; a family with its ancestors and descendants, especially a royal or noble one.
A curse lay upon the House of Atreus.
House
(metaphorical) A place of rest or repose.
House
A grouping of schoolchildren for the purposes of competition in sports and other activities.
I was a member of Spenser house when I was at school.
House
An animal's shelter or den, or the shell of an animal such as a snail, used for protection.
House
(astrology) One of the twelve divisions of an astrological chart.
House
(cartomancy) The fourth Lenormand card.
House
A square on a chessboard, regarded as the proper place of a piece.
House
(curling) The four concentric circles where points are scored on the ice.
House
Lotto; bingo.
House
(uncountable) A children's game in which the players pretend to be members of a household.
As the babysitter, Emma always acted as the mother whenever the kids demanded to play house.
House
A small stand of trees in a swamp.
House
(sudoku) A set of cells in a Sudoku puzzle which must contain each digit exactly once, such as a row, column, or 3×3 box in classic Sudoku.
House
(music genre) House music.
House
(transitive) To keep within a structure or container.
The car is housed in the garage.
House
(transitive) To admit to residence; to harbor.
House
To take shelter or lodging; to abide; to lodge.
House
To dwell within one of the twelve astrological houses.
House
(transitive) To contain or cover mechanical parts.
House
(transitive) To contain one part of an object for the purpose of locating the whole.
The joists were housed into the side walls, rather than being hung from them.
House
(obsolete) To drive to a shelter.
House
(obsolete) To deposit and cover, as in the grave.
House
(nautical) To stow in a safe place; to take down and make safe.
To house the upper spars
House
To eat.
House
A structure intended or used as a habitation or shelter for animals of any kind; but especially, a building or edifice for the habitation of man; a dwelling place, a mansion.
Houses are built to live in; not to look on.
Bees with smoke and doves with noisome stenchAre from their hives and houses driven away.
House
Household affairs; domestic concerns; particularly in the phrase to keep house. See below.
House
Those who dwell in the same house; a household.
One that feared God with all his house.
House
A family of ancestors, descendants, and kindred; a race of persons from the same stock; a tribe; especially, a noble family or an illustrious race; as, the house of Austria; the house of Hanover; the house of Israel.
The last remaining pillar of their house,The one transmitter of their ancient name.
House
One of the estates of a kingdom or other government assembled in parliament or legislature; a body of men united in a legislative capacity; as, the House of Lords; the House of Commons; the House of Representatives; also, a quorum of such a body. See Congress, and Parliament.
House
A firm, or commercial establishment.
House
A public house; an inn; a hotel.
House
A twelfth part of the heavens, as divided by six circles intersecting at the north and south points of the horizon, used by astrologers in noting the positions of the heavenly bodies, and casting horoscopes or nativities. The houses were regarded as fixed in respect to the horizon, and numbered from the one at the eastern horizon, called the ascendant, first house, or house of life, downward, or in the direction of the earth's revolution, the stars and planets passing through them in the reverse order every twenty-four hours.
House
A square on a chessboard, regarded as the proper place of a piece.
House
An audience; an assembly of hearers, as at a lecture, a theater, etc.; as, a thin or a full house.
House
The body, as the habitation of the soul.
This mortal house I'll ruin,Do Cæsar what he can.
House
The grave.
House
To take or put into a house; to shelter under a roof; to cover from the inclemencies of the weather; to protect by covering; as, to house one's family in a comfortable home; to house farming utensils; to house cattle.
At length have housed me in a humble shed.
House your choicest carnations, or rather set them under a penthouse.
House
To drive to a shelter.
House
To admit to residence; to harbor.
Palladius wished him to house all the Helots.
House
To deposit and cover, as in the grave.
House
To stow in a safe place; to take down and make safe; as, to house the upper spars.
House
To take shelter or lodging; to abide to dwell; to lodge.
You shall not house with me.
House
A dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families;
He has a house on Cape Cod
She felt she had to get out of the house
House
An official assembly having legislative powers;
The legislature has two houses
House
A building in which something is sheltered or located;
They had a large carriage house
House
A social unit living together;
He moved his family to Virginia
It was a good Christian household
I waited until the whole house was asleep
The teacher asked how many people made up his home
House
A building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented;
The house was full
House
Members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments;
He worked for a brokerage house
House
Aristocratic family line;
The House of York
House
The members of a religious community living together
House
The audience gathered together in a theatre or cinema;
The house applauded
He counted the house
House
Play in which children take the roles of father or mother or children and pretend to interact like adults;
The children were playing house
House
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
House
The management of a gambling house or casino;
The house gets a percentage of every bet
House
Contain or cover;
This box houses the gears
House
Provide housing for;
The immigrants were housed in a new development outside the town
House
A building in which people live.
We bought a new house in the city.
House
A building where a particular activity occurs.
The opera house was packed for the evening show.
House
A family line or lineage.
The House of Windsor is the current royal family in the UK.
House
To provide shelter or accommodation.
The museum houses a vast collection of artifacts.
FAQs
Is a mansion considered a house?
Yes, a mansion is a type of large, luxurious house.
Are cottages always in rural areas?
No, while often in rural settings, cottages can be found elsewhere, including coastal areas.
Can a house be a single room?
Typically, a house has multiple rooms, but some cultures have simple, one-room houses.
Is a cottage industry related to building cottages?
No, "cottage industry" refers to small-scale production, often home-based.
Does every culture have houses?
Yes, every culture has some form of house, though designs and materials vary.
Are cottages often made of wood?
Often, but not always. Cottages can be made of various materials.
Can a cottage be a primary residence?
Yes, a cottage can serve as a primary residence, especially in rural areas.
Are apartments considered houses?
No, apartments are individual units in larger buildings, distinct from standalone houses.
Can a house be mobile?
Yes, there are mobile homes that can be moved but are still considered houses.
Is a townhouse considered a house?
Yes, a townhouse is a type of house, often in urban settings.
Can a cottage be luxurious?
Yes, while cottages are often simple, they can be luxurious and well-appointed.
Are all cottages small?
Typically, yes, cottages are smaller, cozy dwellings.
Can cottages be found in cities?
While less common, some city areas, especially historic ones, may have cottages.
Do all houses have yards?
No, while many houses, especially in suburban areas, have yards, it's not a requirement.
Can businesses operate in houses?
Yes, many businesses, especially home-based ones, operate in houses.
Is a chalet the same as a cottage?
No, while similar, a chalet typically refers to a wooden house in mountain areas.
Can a house belong to an institution?
Yes, institutions like schools or businesses might own houses for various purposes.
Are duplexes considered houses?
Yes, a duplex is a type of house divided into two separate residences.
Are cottages exclusive to English culture?
No, while the term originated in England, the concept of cottages exists in various cultures.
Do cottages have modern amenities?
While many cottages have a rustic feel, they can have modern amenities.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
