Definition

Noun: A pied-à-terre is a small apartment, flat, or house kept for occasional use, typically in a city other than one's primary residence. It serves as a convenient secondary lodging.

Usage

This noun is used to describe a secondary, often modest, dwelling maintained for practical convenience. It is frequently used in the context of urban living, where a person's main home is elsewhere (e.g., in the country or a different city). The term implies the space is not a permanent home but is used for short, periodic stays.

Examples

• They maintain a pied-à-terre in Paris for their frequent business trips.
• The couple decided to buy a pied-à-terre in the city center to avoid long commutes after evening events.
• Her small pied-à-terre is perfectly situated for when she visits her daughter.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often associated with a degree of luxury or practicality, suggesting the owner has the means or need for a secondary residence in a desirable location.
• It is commonly used in real estate and lifestyle contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Secondary residence (noun phrase): A more general, non-French term for a home that is not one's primary dwelling.
• City flat (noun phrase): A descriptive phrase that can sometimes function similarly, emphasizing the urban location.

Synonyms

• Secondary home
• City flat
• Occasional residence

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning emphasizes occasional, practical use. A pied-à-terre is not a vacation home meant for extended leisure, but rather a functional base for periodic visits.
• It is a loanword from French, literally meaning "foot to the ground," implying a place to set foot, to stay temporarily.

Noun

1. lodging for occasional or secondary use
   • they bought a pied-a-terre in London