hostess

[ hoh-stis ]

/ ˈhoʊ stɪs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hostess ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a woman who receives and entertains guests in her own home or elsewhere.

a woman employed in a restaurant or place of amusement to receive, seat, or assist patrons.

a woman who acts as master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for a television or radio program; host.

a woman employed by an airline, railroad, bus company, etc., to see that passengers are comfortable throughout a trip, usually receiving and seating them, and sometimes serving them refreshments.

a woman who manages a resort or hotel or who directs its social activities.

taxi dancer.

verb (used with object)

to be the hostess at (a reception, dinner, etc.): She will hostess a shower for the new bride.

to act as hostess at, to, or for: She volunteered to hostess the garden club next season.

verb (used without object)

to perform the duties or functions of a hostess.

RELATED WORDS

host, toastmistress

Nearby words

hostel school, hosteler, hosteller, hostelling, hostelry, hostess, hostess gown, hostie, hostile, hostile fire, hostile sexism

Origin of hostess

1250–1300; Middle English (h)ostesse < Old French. See host¹, -ess

Related forms

host·ess-ship, noun

Usage note

See -ess.

Examples from the Web for hostess

Why, then, does working in one almost guarantee a waitress, hostess, or bartender will be at the receiving end of such harassment?
Waitressing Is One of the Worst Jobs for Sexual Harassment|Brandy Zadrozny|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the end of the evening, the hostess departed at the same time as her guests, leaving the caterers to clean up the mess.
London’s Oligarch Ghost Town|Tom Sykes|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their phones do work, and are operated by a disarmingly well-mannered host or hostess.
Inside London’s Hottest Celebrity Haunt—But How Long Will Chiltern Firehouse Burn?|Lizzie Crocker|June 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Q: What is the traditional gift to bring the hostess of a Super Bowl party?
Your Super Bowl Etiquette Guide From Food to Clothes to What Not to Say|Kelly Williams Brown|February 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Still, it's no surprise Walmart was among the first recipients, since the retailer is Hostess' largest single customer.
Want Your Twinkies Rush Earlier? Head to Wal-Mart|CNBC|July 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The prince dropped his eye-glass and glanced toward his hostess.
The Hillman|E. Phillips Oppenheim
Should one be in doubt, the rule is to glance at the hostess and adopt her method, whatever that may be.
The Etiquette of To-day|Edith B. Ordway
Thereupon Madame Guerin, feeling she had "landed" him, dropped her pose as hostess and became a matrimonial agent.
Remarkable Rogues|Charles Kingston
A man and wife, if the hostess is sure beyond a doubt that they occupy similar quarters when at home.
Etiquette|Emily Post
No hostess would attempt such a thing, the belief being general that some one of the guests would die within a year.
As A Chinaman Saw Us|Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for hostess

hostess

/ (ˈhəʊstɪs) /

noun

a woman acting as host

a woman who receives and entertains patrons of a club, restaurant, etc

See air hostess

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

hostess

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of hostess

Related forms

Usage note

Examples from the Web for hostess

British Dictionary definitions for hostess

hostess

noun