hospitality

noun

hos·​pi·​tal·​i·​ty ˌhä-spə-ˈta-lə-tē How to pronounce hospitality (audio)
plural hospitalities
1
: hospitable treatment, reception, or disposition
thanked our hosts for their hospitality
2
: the activity or business of providing services to guests in hotels, restaurants, bars, etc.
usually used before another noun
a hospitality suite
Valet parking may be the most commonplace, least understood corner of the hospitality industry.Bruce Feiler
… has turned the hospitality business upside down with his far-out hotel designs …Robert Herzbrun

Examples of hospitality in a Sentence

It was refreshing to be met with such hospitality after our long journey.
Recent Examples on the Web The Olympics and Paralympics On Location team is already working on the Milan-Cortina and L.A. operations, even holding a special media event in Paris for the former unveiling the first set of hospitality packages. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2024 Surviving the inferno:How the Maui fire reshaped one family's story According to the payroll job count from June 2024, Maui County is still 6,300 jobs short from July 2023, with the hospitality sector accounting for over half of those job losses. Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 4 Aug. 2024 The Paris Summer Games are offering a new program where everyday spectators can buy luxe hospitality packages for an extra-luxe experience, The New York Times reported on Friday. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2024 The third generation is also nudging the business into a new territory: hospitality. Angela Velasquez, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hospitality 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hospitality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hospitalite "reception of guests, provision of lodging," borrowed from Anglo-French hospitalité, borrowed from Latin hospitālitāt-, hospitālitās "entertainment of guests," from Latin hospitālis "of a guest, of hospitality, hospitable" (from hospit-, hospes "guest, host" + -ālis -al entry 1) + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at host entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hospitality was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near hospitality

Cite this Entry

“Hospitality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hospitality. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

hospitality

noun
hos·​pi·​tal·​i·​ty ˌhäs-pə-ˈtal-ət-ē How to pronounce hospitality (audio)
plural hospitalities
: generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests
Etymology

Middle English hospitalite "hospitality," from early French hospitalité (same meaning), derived from Latin hospitale "of a guest, showing hospitality," from hospit-, hospes "host, stranger, guest" — related to hospital, host entry 2, hotel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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