villager

A villager is a resident of a village, typically a small rural settlement. They often participate in agricultural production, local crafts, and small-scale trade. Villages historically functioned as basic units of rural society with collective labor, kinship networks, and local leadership.

Villages vary across cultures and eras. Some have strong communal institutions and mutual aid; others revolve around a single dominant family or landholding. In many regions, villagers depend on agriculture, pastoralism, or artisanal trades; social life centers on shared spaces such as the village square, temple or church, and communal events.

In modern usage, "villager" can refer to anyone who lives in a village, including those in developing regions. In popular culture and media, the term is also used in fantasy contexts and in video games to describe non-player characters that inhabit villages and interact with players. The word does not imply a stereotype of rural life, and many villagers engage in diverse livelihoods or relocate to urban areas.

See also: village, rural community.