hostess

[ hoh-stis ]

noun

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.

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

/ 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
   See air hostess

Gender Note

See -ess.

Other Words From

• hostess-ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hostess¹

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

Example Sentences

Please, the next time you’re invited over to someone’s house for a meal, you can and should bring serving utensils as a hostess gift.

From Eater

On the 16th, several women from Texas pummeled a hostess at a New York City family-style restaurant.

From Time

A few blocks away in Kabukicho, where the streets are filled with hostess bars and love hotels, people gather in groups, drinking and chatting on the street.

From Time

My mother-in-law, also in her mid-nineties, is a native of Louisiana who used to be a first-rate cook and hostess.

From Outside Online

The hostess leaned forward to check my vaccination card, then raised her digital thermometer to my forehead.

From Time

Why, then, does working in one almost guarantee a waitress, hostess, or bartender will be at the receiving end of such harassment?

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

Their phones do work, and are operated by a disarmingly well-mannered host or hostess.

From The Daily Beast

Q: What is the traditional gift to bring the hostess of a Super Bowl party?

From The Daily Beast

Still, it's no surprise Walmart was among the first recipients, since the retailer is Hostess' largest single customer.

From The Daily Beast

To fill up the time till Liszt came, our hostess made us play, one after the other, beginning with the latest arrival.

From Project Gutenberg

The entertainment upon such occasions, may vary with the taste of the hostess, or the caprice of her guests.

From Project Gutenberg

To see a hostess fidgeting, constantly going in and out, argues ill for her tact in arranging the house for company.

From Project Gutenberg

The brown loaf was cut by a very excited little hostess into five thick squares; the cheese into four.

From Project Gutenberg

Within the next week, you should call upon your hostess, if it is the first party you have attended at her house.

From Project Gutenberg