hospital

[hos-pi-tl]

noun

1. an institution in which sick or injured people are given medical or surgical treatment.

2. a similar establishment for the care of animals.

3. a repair shop for specific portable objects: doll hospital.

   violin hospital;

   doll hospital.

4. British.,  an institution supported by charity or taxes for people in need of care, as a children's home or nursing home.

hospital

/ ˈhɒspɪtəl /

noun

1. an institution for the medical, surgical, obstetric, or psychiatric care and treatment of patients

2. (modifier) having the function of a hospital

   a hospital ship

3. a repair shop for something specified

   a dolls' hospital

4. archaic,  a charitable home, hospice, or school

Other Word Forms

• minihospital noun
• multihospital adjective
• posthospital adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hospital¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (h)ospital, “lodging for pilgrims and travelers, hostel,” Old French (h)ospital, from Medieval Latin hospitāle “guesthouse, inn,” noun use of neuter of Latin hospitālis “hospitable,” equivalent to hospit- stem of hospes “guest, visitor, host” + -ālis -al ¹ ( def. ); hospitium

Word History and Origins

Origin of hospital¹

C13: from Medieval Latin hospitāle hospice, from Latin hospitālis relating to a guest, from hospes, hospit- guest, _host ¹

Example Sentences

As we approached the broad face of the 1930s federal building that had served as Carville’s hospital, I tried to catch my father’s eye, but I couldn’t read his face.

Read more on Salon

The injured have been taken to hospital while national police and the Peruvian Navy look for more survivors.

Read more on BBC

This will be the 14th strike by the doctors' union since March 2023 and is expected to cause significant disruption, particularly in hospitals.

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The last outbreak, in the central province of Kasai, started on August 20, when a 34-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to hospital.

Read more on Barron's

At least five people were taken to the hospital Sunday night after a car collided with an ambulance that was transporting an elderly patient in the San Fernando Valley.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clinic 
• emergency room 
• hospice 
• institution 
• nursing home 
• ward