Cozy means warm, comfortable, and snug in a way that makes you feel safe and content. When you curl up under a soft blanket with hot cocoa on a rainy afternoon, that's cozy. A small room with cushions, warm lighting, and maybe a crackling fireplace feels cozy because everything about it invites you to relax and stay awhile.

The word suggests physical warmth combined with a certain atmosphere: it feels sheltered, intimate, and peaceful. Your favorite reading nook might be cozy. A cabin in the woods with wooden walls and overstuffed chairs creates a cozy feeling. Even relationships can be cozy when people feel comfortable and at ease with each other.

People sometimes use cozy to describe something small in a positive way. A real estate agent might call a tiny apartment “cozy” instead of “cramped,” hoping you'll focus on its intimate charm rather than its size. But when something truly is cozy, you don't need convincing. You can feel it the moment you settle in.