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

This has weighed on leisure and hospitality employment in US border communities, found Philip Luck of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

S&P Global Ratings said in July that aviation and hospitality were among the GCC sectors already facing credit-quality pressures from the conflict, alongside weakened business confidence and delayed investment activity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

But sectors including healthcare, nursing, hospitality and logistics posted fewer vacancies.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Walsh, the hospitality owner, said he was surprised a few days ago when he saw that someone—using a chalkboard where locals trade messages—had wished SpaceX employees luck running a marathon on the island.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

I’ll be a good guest and pay for your hospitality with tales of adventure.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

“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

He met his Housemaster but seldom, for he was naturally excluded from such unofficial hospitalities as Sunday breakfasts and half-holiday teas.

From A Knight on Wheels by Ian Hay

Each club is an organization for social entertainments and hospitalities to which members are free to bring all their women-kind.

From Social Transformations of the Victorian Age A Survey of Court and Country by T. H. S. (Thomas Hay Sweet) Escott

Their troubles, anxieties, and doubts, were over, and two days later they were safely anchored off Holsteinborg, enjoying the hospitalities of the Danes.

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

Related Words

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