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Meaning & use

cosy

adjective, noun·EverydayBritish

Last updated

UK/ˈkəʊzi/
US/ˈkoʊzi/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Warm, soft and comfortable in a way that makes you feel safe and relaxed.

    Grammar: Used for places and things: a cosy room; the sofa is cosy.

    Patterns

    • cosy and warm
    • a cosy place

    We sat in a cosy corner of the cafe with hot chocolate.

    The cottage looked cosy with a fire burning inside.

    She wrapped herself in a cosy blanket.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Pleasantly friendly and informal, in a close and private way.

    Grammar: Describes talks and groups: a cosy chat.

    Patterns

    • a cosy chat
    • a cosy evening

    We had a cosy chat over tea.

    It was a cosy gathering of old friends.

    The pub has a cosy atmosphere on winter evenings.

  3. adjectivecomparabledisapproving

    Too friendly, in a way that suggests unfair favors or lack of independence.

    Grammar: Often critical and used with relationship: a cosy deal.

    Patterns

    • a cosy relationship
    • a cosy deal

    Critics attacked the cosy relationship between the minister and the firm.

    A cosy deal gave the company the contract without competition.

    The cosy arrangement ended after the investigation.

  4. nouncountableBritish

    A padded cover that keeps a teapot or boiled egg warm.

    Grammar: Often in compounds: a tea cosy.

    Patterns

    • tea cosy
    • egg cosy

    Grandma knitted a tea cosy for the new pot.

    The egg cosy matched the napkins.

    He slipped a cosy over the teapot.

Word forms

comparativecosier
superlativecosiest
pluralcosies

Common combinations

cosy up to
She likes to cosy up to the fire.
cosy corner
The shop has a cosy corner for reading.
cosy atmosphere
The inn has a cosy atmosphere.
cosy blanket
Under a cosy blanket she fell asleep.
cosy evening in
We planned a cosy evening in with a film.

Synonyms and how they differ

snug
Snug stresses being small, tight and warm, while cosy also suggests a welcoming mood.
comfortable
Comfortable is the broad everyday word, with no special sense of warmth or smallness.
homely
In British English homely means simple and comfortable, but in American English it can mean plain-looking.
intimate
Intimate suggests privacy and closeness, and can be used for a restaurant or talk, but not for a blanket.

Opposites

colduncomfortablecheerless

Word family

cosily adverb
in a warm and comfortable way
cosiness noun
the feeling of being warm and comfortable
cozy adjective
the American spelling of cosy

Commonly confused: cosy or cozy? cosy or cosey?

cosy vs cozy

Cozy is the American spelling; cosy is the usual British spelling. They mean the same.

cosy vs cosey

Cosey is a rare older variant; cosy is the standard British spelling.

Practice

Which sentence uses cosy in a critical way?

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