hostess

American  

[hoh-stis] / ˈhoʊ stɪs /

noun

• hostesses
  plural

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

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

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

4. 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.

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

6. taxi dancer.

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verb (used with object)

1. to be the hostess at (a reception, dinner, etc.).

   She will hostess a shower for the new bride.

2. to act as hostess at, to, or for.

   She volunteered to hostess the garden club next season.

verb (used without object)

1. to perform the duties or functions of a hostess.

hostess British  

/ ˈhəʊstɪs /

noun

1. a woman acting as host

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

3. See air hostess

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Gender

See -ess.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hostess-ship
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hostesses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hostess

1250–1300; Middle English ( h ) ostesse < Old French. See host ¹, -ess

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hostess hostesses

A no-holds-barred interview with US talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey also deepened the rift.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

The hostess working the front desk at the bar compliments my hair, which, to be honest, is in desperate need of a cut.

From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026

Later, at a post-match reception at the home of a wealthy local white family, the team lined up to meet the hostess.

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

“Five minutes to showtime,” said Lil Miss Hot Mess, drag queen and hostess, as Latine drag kings El Daña and Manny Oakley readied themselves for the spotlight.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

Fadi nodded and followed the hostess to a small booth.

From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai

The exhibition introduces Williamsburg’s first interpreters: mostly older white women who, as costumed hostesses, were tasked with guiding visitors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

Thompson pursued a counternarrative, describing the spectacle of nightclub hostesses bringing out bottles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2025

After watching a documentary about bar hostesses who had organized a union, they learned that the women had drafted legislation to protect their rights.

From New York Times ● Jan. 19, 2024

These nightclubs were frequented by activists, diplomats, politicians, air hostesses and young people.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2023

I described the glittering casinos and the glamorous high rollers, the palm trees and the swimming pools, the hotels with ice-cold air-conditioning and the restaurants where hostesses with long white gloves fit flaming desserts.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls