accommodation

American  

[uh-kom-uh-dey-shuhn] / əˌkɒm əˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

• accommodations
  plural

1. the act of accommodating; state or process of being accommodated; adaptation.

2. adjustment of differences; reconciliation.

3. Sociology. a process of mutual adaptation between persons or groups, usually achieved by eliminating or reducing hostility, as by compromise or arbitration.

4. anything that supplies a need, want, favor, convenience, etc.

5. Usually accommodations.

   1. lodging.

   2. food and lodging.

   3. a seat, berth, or other facilities for a passenger on a train, plane, etc.

6. readiness to aid or please others; obligingness.

7. a loan.

8. Ophthalmology. the automatic adjustment by which the eye adapts itself to distinct vision at different distances.

9. accommodation bill.

---

accommodation British  

/ əˌkɒməˈdeɪʃən /

noun

1. lodging or board and lodging

2. adjustment, as of differences or to new circumstances; adaptation, settlement, or reconciliation

3. something fulfilling a need, want, etc; convenience or facility

4. physiol the automatic or voluntary adjustment of the shape of the lens of the eye for far or near vision

5. willingness to help or oblige

6. commerce a loan, usually made as an act of favour by a bank before formal credit arrangements are agreed

---

accommodation Scientific  

/ ə-kŏm′ə-dā′shən /

1. The adjustment in the focal length of the lens of the eye. Accommodation permits images at different distances to be focused on the retina.

---

Usage

What does accommodation mean? Accommodation is commonly used in the plural form (accommodations) to refer to lodging—a place to stay, usually temporarily, as in hotel accommodations. Sometimes, accommodations means both food and lodging, as in This resort is all-inclusive, so all of our accommodations are included in the cost. In the context of transportation, accommodations refers to one’s seat on a vehicle, such as an airplane or train, or one’s lodging on a train or ship that has rooms (cabins) for sleeping. More generally, accommodation means the act of accommodating. The verb accommodate has several meanings. To accommodate someone is to do them a favor or meet their needs or wants in some way. For example: Your constant accommodation of people doesn’t leave any time for yourself. To accommodate a request is to honor it—to do what has been asked. For example: Your accommodation of my special requests has been very kind. The adjective accommodating means eager or willing to help or please in this way. Accommodate can also mean to make or have room for, as in This bus can accommodate up to 50 passengers. Similarly, accommodate can mean to provide someone with a place to stay. For example: Unfortunately, the accommodation of that many people is not possible at this hotel. Example: What were the accommodations like at your hotel? Did your room have a nice view?

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonaccommodation
  noun
• preaccommodation
  noun
• accommodational
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• accommodations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of accommodation

1595–1605; < Latin accommodātiōn- (stem of accommodātiō ) adjustment. See accommodate, -ion

Explanation

Accommodation is all about making room — it can mean a room or place where you will stay or an agreement about sharing something. If the only accommodation at Grandma's is the bunk bed and you and your sis decide to take turns on the top, you've made an accommodation regarding your accommodations. When you are accommodating someone, you are making room for them or special circumstances for them. For example, the student with the broken hand was granted the accommodation of having a scribe write his answers for the test. Always remember that accommodation is an accommodating word — there's room inside for two m's and two c's.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accommodation accommodations

Ronesha, 31, has been living in temporary accommodation with her two sons since 2024, after being made homeless following a no-fault eviction.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

The fire on Jamaica Street started on Wednesday morning, after the crew had picked up waste from student accommodation - though Mitchell said it was unclear where the waste had come from.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Councillor Adrian Hussey said some people had lost their homes and were being offered temporary accommodation.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

"We are looking at other sites such as former industrial sites, student accommodation - accommodation that is more more appropriate than hotels."

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

The government, in its slow and tentative way, was reckoning that they had to come to some accommodation with the ANC.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Only 7% cover accommodations for mobility limitation, hearing disability, vision impairment and sensory disabilities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

The suit accuses the company of violating California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act by not making accommodations for her.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

If you cast your net outside of the town center and consider visiting in the low season, your options for reasonable accommodations multiply.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

On the statutory question, it held that Title IX’s provisions, particularly the Javits Amendment, which concerns school sports, did not require schools to make reasonable accommodations for trans students.

From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2026

He didn’t seem any too pleased with our accommodations, either.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Related Words

• compromise
• reconciliation