hospice

American  

[hos-pis] / ˈhɒs pɪs /

noun

1. a house of shelter or rest for pilgrims, strangers, etc., especially one kept by a religious order.

2. Medicine/Medical.

   1. a healthcare facility for the terminally ill that emphasizes pain control and emotional support for the patient and family, typically refraining from taking extraordinary measures to prolong life.

   2. a similar program of care and support for the terminally ill at home or in a nursing home.

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hospice British  

/ ˈhɒspɪs /

noun

1. a nursing home that specializes in caring for the terminally ill

2. Also called: hospitium.  archaic a place of shelter for travellers, esp one kept by a monastic order

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Etymology

Origin of hospice

First recorded in 1810–20; from French, from Latin hospitium “hospitable reception, entertainment”; see hospitium

Explanation

If someone has entered into a hospice, his health outlook is likely grim. Hospice care is a program designed to make the process of dying as comfortable as possible for patients and their families. The word hospice comes from the Latin hospitum, meaning "guest house, hospitality." Hospice traditionally meant lodging for travelers, often run by a religious order like a church or monastery. While we most commonly see the word hospice used to describe the particular care provided to people who are dying, the term is not strictly limited to this. A hospice can also be a place that takes care of the sick, not necessarily only the terminally ill.

Example Sentences

One hospice medical director was affiliated with more than 30 hospices, which is suspicious.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Mehmet Oz, the Trump administration’s overseer of Medicare and Medicaid, said he may have uncovered huge amounts of fraud in Medicaid hospice spending.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

A California state audit in 2022 found that more than 150 licensed hospice and home health agencies were licensed at a single building in Los Angeles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Before his death in a Danish hospice, he told me, with his typical understatement, that it was "a bit annoying" he wouldn't live to see the resolution of the case.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Many staff thought it was time to call in hospice care for the man, but Farmer insisted cheerily, “He’s going to walk out of here.”

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• clinic
• emergency room
• health service
• infirmary
• nursing home
• sanitarium
• shelter
• ward