hostess

American  

[hoh-stis] / ˈhoʊ stɪs /

noun

1. a woman who receives and entertains guests in her own home or elsewhere.

2. a woman employed in a restaurant or place of amusement to receive, seat, or assist patrons.

3. a woman who acts as master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for a television or radio program; host.

4. a woman employed by an airline, railroad, bus company, etc., to see that passengers are comfortable throughout a trip, usually receiving and seating them, and sometimes serving them refreshments.

5. a woman who manages a resort or hotel or who directs its social activities.

6. taxi dancer.

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verb (used with object)

1. to be the hostess at (a reception, dinner, etc.).

   She will hostess a shower for the new bride.

2. to act as hostess at, to, or for.

   She volunteered to hostess the garden club next season.

verb (used without object)

1. to perform the duties or functions of a hostess.

hostess British  

/ ˈhəʊstɪs /

noun

1. a woman acting as host

2. a woman who receives and entertains patrons of a club, restaurant, etc

3. See air hostess

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Gender

See -ess.

Other Word Forms

• hostess-ship noun

Etymology

Origin of hostess

1250–1300; Middle English ( h ) ostesse < Old French. See host ¹, -ess

Example Sentences

The sisters’ mutual antagonism has a few clever beats, like when they bicker over who had the superior working-class restaurant job, Grace waiting tables or Faith as a hostess.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

The hostess usually puts on a nice spread: dips, fresh bread, cuts of ham and beef, Christmas tree-shaped chips with hummus and salsa cruda, mince pies, chocolate squares, etc.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 24, 2025

Nigella Lawson, a television hostess and food writer, told reporters she had paid Gyngell to help her develop and test recipes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025

An unidentified woman wrote that "before Jeffrey" she was a 22-year-old divorced restaurant hostess but "after Jeffrey" she travelled the world, met celebrities including "Prince Andrew, President Clinton, Sultan of Brunei, Donald Trump", among others.

From BBC • Sep. 9, 2025

The first thing Simon does is ask her about the rental dolls—and then he, Abby, and Bram end up following her back to the hostess stand.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli