cosy
Word family
- cosilyadverbB2
- cosinessnounB2
- cozyadjectiveB1
- cozilyadverbB2
- cozinessnounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
All four words describe a pleasant physical experience, but they differ in what they emphasise. Cosy adds a layer of emotional safety and warmth in a small space — you feel cosy in a cottage with a fire, not in a large modern lounge. Comfortable is broader and more neutral: a chair, bed, or hotel can be comfortable without being warm or small. Snug implies an even tighter, more enclosed fit — a child tucked into a small bed feels snug, but an adult might feel cramped. Warm focuses purely on temperature; a room can be warm but draughty and ugly, which would never be described as cosy. Use cosy when you want to suggest that the warmth, smallness, and emotional comfort all work together: 'Their tiny flat was cosy, with soft lights and a gas fire.' Use comfortable for general ease, snug for tightly enclosed spaces, and warm for temperature alone.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'cosy' first appeared in Scotland in the early 1700s, possibly from Scottish Gaelic 'còs' meaning a hollow or nook, or from Scots 'cosie' (a small hut or shelter). The original sense was 'warm and sheltered in a snug way'. By the 1800s the word had spread through British English, and the figurative sense of 'convenient but dishonest' emerged in the late 19th century. The American spelling 'cozy' became standard in the US from the 19th century onward.