Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for hospice. Search instead for hospices.
Synonyms

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.

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hospice

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles office, said Southern California was rife with hospice fraud.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

In 10 weeks, Oz said, federal officials had taken down 221 hospice facilities in the area.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

A group of Kent students have joined forces with a local hospice to share art sessions with people living with life-limiting conditions.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Her family said she died peacefully at a hospice surrounded by "cherished friends", but no cause of death was given.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

By then they were more than halfway to the hospice, but it was nearly dark when they reached St. Mark’s and were admitted by the porter at the postern gate.

From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.