hospitality

American  

[hos-pi-tal-i-tee] / ˌhɒs pɪˈtæl ɪ ti /

noun

• hospitalities
  plural

1. the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers.

   Hospitality at the hotel is fantastic, with staff who offered us refreshing drinks and comfortable chairs while we waited to check in.

2. the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.

   In many cultures, hospitality plays a significant role in social interactions, as individuals are often judged by their ability to extend kindness and generosity toward others.

   Synonyms:

   friendliness, geniality, cordiality, warmth

3. the business or act of providing accommodation, food, drink, and other services to guests (often used attributively).

   She has held several executive-level positions in hospitality.

   This course will appeal to students who want to make a career for themselves in the hospitality industry.

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hospitality British  

/ ˌhɒspɪˈtælɪtɪ /

noun

1. kindness in welcoming strangers or guests

2. receptiveness

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hospitalities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hospitality

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English hospitalite, from Middle French, from Latin hospitālitās, from hospitāli(s) “of a guest, hospitable” ( see hospital) + -tās -ty ²

Explanation

A reputation for hospitality means you're known for being kind and welcoming to visitors, which may also mean that you always have a full house at Thanksgiving. Hospitalitem is a Latin word meaning "friendliness to guests," so it's not hard to see where the word hospitality comes from. Showing hospitality involves making others feel comfortable and welcome in your home. If you're grumpy and prefer to be left alone, this word probably won't ever be used to describe you, nor are you likely headed for a career in the hospitality industry.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hospitality hospitalities

Farah Larrieux, who received TPS protections in 2010 and lives in South Florida, lost her hospitality job last month when her work authorization expired, and has applied for asylum.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

If anything, many of the Gen Z drinkers I interviewed sounded intensely interested in food, wine, cocktails and hospitality.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

Miltenova has said she is now "confident" that Bulgaria will be a "worthy" host and the country would "showcase the very best of our culture, hospitality and professionalism".

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Airbnb built a multibillion-dollar hospitality platform by convincing travelers to “forget hotels.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

I shot a look over at Aunt Kitty in her flouncy blue gown, laughing and talking at the center of her own circle of wild-eyed Southern hospitality.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

“I would love to see us kind of have more of an F1-style approach to a race weekend and how we host hospitalities, parties, just all those things,” Hamlin said.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 21, 2021

We were sad to leave the Senn residence, and thankful for their kind hospitalities, vowing to come soon for another visit.

From Time Magazine Archive

Two hours later the delightful hospitalities of Dr. and Mrs. Sutton were left behind, and the farewell to the group in the courtyard of the mission house is a long farewell to civilisation.

From Journeys in Persia and Kurdistan, Volume I (of 2) Including a Summer in the Upper Karun Region and a Visit to the Nestorian Rayahs by Isabella L. (Isabella Lucy) Bird

And so the winter wore on with the usual breaks in the way of hospitalities given and received till the days began to lengthen—and then something happened.

From The Twa Miss Dawsons by Margaret M. (Margaret Murray) Robertson

At length was reached the climax of our hospitalities.

From The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, & Heroism. Volume 3 by Frederick Whymper

Related Words

• accommodation
• companionship
• friendliness
• generosity
• reception
• warmth