Meaning & use
coziness
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Meanings
noununcountable
The pleasant feeling of being warm, comfortable, and safe, especially indoors.
Grammar: Uncountable, so it takes a singular verb and no 'a' or plural: 'the coziness of the room', not 'a coziness'.
Patterns
- the coziness of something
- a feeling of coziness
- add coziness to something
The coziness of the little kitchen made us want to stay all evening.
Candles and thick blankets create a feeling of coziness on cold nights.
She loved the coziness of her grandmother's living room.
noununcountable
The quality of a place that makes it small, warm, and comfortable to be in.
Grammar: Also uncountable; often used with words like 'warm' or 'quiet' before it.
Patterns
- the warm coziness of something
- the quiet coziness of something
The warm coziness of the cafe drew people in from the rain.
What I remember most is the quiet coziness of that old bookshop.
noununcountablefigurative
A comfortable, friendly atmosphere in a group or relationship.
Grammar: Used figuratively about people and social situations, not physical places.
Patterns
- the coziness of something
- a sense of coziness between people
There was a pleasant coziness among the neighbors at the street party.
The coziness between the two old friends was obvious to everyone.
Common combinations
- a feeling of coziness
- The soft lighting gave the room a feeling of coziness.
- the coziness of home
- After a long trip, nothing beats the coziness of home.
- warm coziness
- The fireplace filled the cabin with warm coziness.
- add coziness to
- A few cushions can add coziness to a plain sofa.
- create coziness
- Rugs and curtains help create coziness in winter.
Synonyms and how they differ
- comfort
- Comfort is broader and can be physical or emotional; coziness specifically suggests warmth and a snug, enclosed feeling.
- snugness
- Snugness is very close in meaning but sounds a little more old-fashioned and is used mainly about small, tight spaces.
- warmth
- Warmth can be literal temperature or friendliness; coziness always includes a sense of shelter and ease.
Opposites
Word family
- cozy adjective
- Warm, comfortable, and sheltered; the base adjective.
- cozily adverb
- In a warm, comfortable way: 'They sat cozily by the fire.'
- cosiness noun
- British spelling of the same noun.
Commonly confused: coziness or cosiness? coziness or laziness?
coziness vs cosiness
This is simply the British spelling of coziness; the meaning is identical, so choose the spelling that matches your audience.
coziness vs laziness
Laziness means being unwilling to work, which is negative; coziness is a pleasant, positive feeling of comfort.
Practice
Which sentence uses coziness correctly?
Choose one answer.
Cozyness is an uncountable noun, so it fits after 'the ... of the room' with a singular verb. Option 1 treats it as a countable object, option 2 makes a plural, and option 3 uses it as an adverb, none of which works for this noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “coziness”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.