hamlet

1 of 2

noun (1)

ham·​let ˈham-lət How to pronounce hamlet (audio)
Synonyms of hamletnext
: a small village

Hamlet

2 of 2

noun (2)

Ham·​let ˈham-lət How to pronounce Hamlet (audio)
: a legendary Danish prince and hero of Shakespeare's play Hamlet

Synonyms of hamlet

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Noun (1)

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Examples of hamlet in a Sentence

Noun (1) she always longed to return to the quiet hamlet where she had been born
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The neighborhood/area Hensonville is a tiny hamlet of Windham in the middle of the Catskills with a population of just 378 people. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026 These small towns—whether lakeside retreats or artsy hamlets nestled into hills transformed by foliage—are the definition of autumn charm. — Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
Founded by Puritans from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, Boston got its name from a hamlet in Lincolnshire, England. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 June 2026 With far less hair, Ella’s green eyes seemed greener, like those of the feral black cats that roamed their hamlet, meowing for table scraps, which were often given without hesitation. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hamlet

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French hamelet, diminutive of ham village, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English hām village, home

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hamlet was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

ham it up
hamlet
Hamlet
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Cite this Entry

“Hamlet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hamlet. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hamlet

noun
ham·​let ˈham-lət How to pronounce hamlet (audio)
: a small village

More from Merriam-Webster on hamlet

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hamlet

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