hospital

American  

[hos-pi-tl] / ˈhɒs pɪ tl /

noun

1. an institution in which sick or injured people are given medical or surgical treatment.

2. a similar establishment for the care of animals.

3. a repair shop for specific portable objects: doll hospital.

   violin hospital;

   doll hospital.

4. British. an institution supported by charity or taxes for people in need of care, as a children's home or nursing home.

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hospital British  

/ ˈhɒspɪtəl /

noun

1. an institution for the medical, surgical, obstetric, or psychiatric care and treatment of patients

2. (modifier) having the function of a hospital

   a hospital ship

3. a repair shop for something specified

   a dolls' hospital

4. archaic a charitable home, hospice, or school

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Other Word Forms

• minihospital
  noun
• multihospital
  adjective
• posthospital
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hospital

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (h)ospital, “lodging for pilgrims and travelers, hostel,” Old French (h)ospital, from Medieval Latin hospitāle “guesthouse, inn,” noun use of neuter of Latin hospitālis “hospitable,” equivalent to hospit- stem of hospes “guest, visitor, host” + -ālis -al ¹ ( def. ); see also hospitium

Explanation

A hospital is the place to go when you're very sick or injured in a way that requires immediate treatment. If you trip over your shoelaces and break your arm, you'll need to go to the hospital. People having surgery or delivering a baby usually go to a hospital, and if you suspect you have food poisoning, you might visit the emergency room of a hospital. Hospitals are staffed by doctors and nurses, as well as office workers, cleaners, and aides of various kinds. The earliest hospitals were shelters or needy people, or hostels for travelers, and the word comes from the Late Latin hospitale, "guest house or inn."

Example Sentences

"The mother has been in and out of hospital, not eating. It's obviously a really desperate situation," she told AFP.

From Barron's • May 9, 2026

Otherwise, the Spanish nationals will be flown to Madrid, where they face a mandatory quarantine in the Gomez Ulla military hospital.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

"Ten injured sailors have been transferred to hospital, and local groups and search teams are trying to learn the fate of the other sailors," Radmehr told Iranian state news agency Mehr.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

That’s 400 for every baby leaving a hospital.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Part of this hospital was especially for those with the atom bomb sickness.

From "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" by Eleanor Coerr

Related Words

• clinic
• emergency room
• hospice
• institution
• nursing home
• ward