hospitality
Americannoun
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
noun
-
kindness in welcoming strangers or guests
-
receptiveness
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing hospitality
I Am Malala
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Unit 1: Telling Details
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The Lightning Thief
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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.
They put on concerts, made art and stayed up late talking and dancing, infusing his home with the spirit of hospitality that would dictate his future ventures.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Positions on the council are unpaid but come with hospitality benefits which, for England men's Tests, are worth several hundreds of pounds for each fixture.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
High Street retailers and hospitality businesses such as restaurants, cafes and pubs often offer the first experience of work for many.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
The union, Unite Here Local 11, is one of the most powerful in the hospitality industry, and represents more than 32,000 workers in California and Arizona.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
The man answered, “Let’s jus’ call it good old-fashioned Southern hospitality being served up a long way from home.”
From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis
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.
