hospital

American  

[hos-pi-tl] / ˈhɒs pɪ 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.

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hospital British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• minihospital noun
• multihospital adjective
• posthospital adjective

Etymology

Origin of hospital

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. ); see also hospitium

Explanation

A hospital is the place to go when you're very sick or injured in a way that requires immediate treatment. If you trip over your shoelaces and break your arm, you'll need to go to the hospital. People having surgery or delivering a baby usually go to a hospital, and if you suspect you have food poisoning, you might visit the emergency room of a hospital. Hospitals are staffed by doctors and nurses, as well as office workers, cleaners, and aides of various kinds. The earliest hospitals were shelters or needy people, or hostels for travelers, and the word comes from the Late Latin hospitale, "guest house or inn."

Example Sentences

I luckily had a very standard birth, a healthy baby, and a two-day hospital stay.

From Slate • Apr. 25, 2026

She was discharged from a hospital to hospice, and we were told a nurse would be there with her pain meds.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

She said she and Fox were "childhood sweethearts" who were planning to get married, which happened while he was in a coma in hospital.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Lula, 80, left the hospital shortly before noon, his office said.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

“We’ll airlift you to the hospital in Kendra. It’s functioning with generators.”

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

Related Words

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