Meaning & use

Cape Cod

proper noun·Everyday

A hook-shaped peninsula in Massachusetts known for its beaches and coastal towns, or a house style named after the region.

See it in a sentence

Families flock to Cape Cod every summer for its sandy beaches and lighthouses.

They bought a classic Cape Cod with cedar shingles and a steep roof.

A note on using this word

The peninsula sense is always capitalized; the house-style sense is also usually capitalized as a proper adjective.

Words with a similar meaning

This term is best learned through its definition and examples.

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A style of house, usually one or one-and-a-half stories, with a steep roof and simple, symmetrical design, originating in New England.

The neighborhood is full of small Cape Cods built in the 1950s.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “Cape Cod”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.