A hamlet is a very small settlementa place where people live together, such as a town or village, smaller than a village or town. It can also refer to the Shakespearethe English writer who created many plays and poems character Hamlet, the prince at the center of the famous tragedya serious play or story ending in suffering, death, or disaster.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈhæm.lɪt/
Easy pronunciation: HAM-lit (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Use this pronunciation for the noun meaning a very small settlement; not the Shakespeare character.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Hamlet Meaning
a very small village-like place where only a few people live
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a settlement smaller than a town
Example: They rented a cottage in a quiet hamlet by the sea.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- village — Close in everyday meaning, though a hamlet is usually smaller than a village.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Hamlet
Meaning 2
a very small group of homes or people in one place
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a community of people smaller than a village
Example: The road passed through a hamlet with only a handful of houses.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- crossroads — Can refer to a small settlement, but it is more specific and not always a direct substitute.
Meaning 3
the main character in Shakespeare's play Hamlet
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the hero of William Shakespeare's tragedy who hoped to avenge the murder of his father
Example: Students spent the term studying Hamlet's famous soliloquy.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Hamlet Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- village
a very small settlement or community
- crossroads
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse hamlet the noun meaning a small settlement with Hamlet the Shakespeare character.
- A hamlet is usually smaller than a village, so the two words are not exact matches.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does hamlet mean?
A hamlet is a very small settlement, smaller than a village or town. It can also mean the Shakespeare character Hamlet.
Is a hamlet smaller than a village?
Yes. In standard usage, a hamlet is usually smaller than a village.
What is a synonym for hamlet?
For the place meaning, village is the closest common synonym, though it is not exact. For the Shakespeare character, there is no synonym.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.