hospital
Americannoun
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hospitals
plural
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an institution in which sick or injured people are given medical or surgical treatment.
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a similar establishment for the care of animals.
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a repair shop for specific portable objects: doll hospital.
violin hospital;
doll hospital.
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British. an institution supported by charity or taxes for people in need of care, as a children's home or nursing home.
noun
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an institution for the medical, surgical, obstetric, or psychiatric care and treatment of patients
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(modifier) having the function of a hospital
a hospital ship
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a repair shop for something specified
a dolls' hospital
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archaic a charitable home, hospice, or school
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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."
Vocabulary lists containing hospital
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.
See Examples For:
In a statement, former hospital executives named in the report said they were reviewing its findings and recommendations, but could not comment further while investigations remained under way.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
"Four patients have been assessed. Three patients have been determined deceased on scene. One patient has been transported to a local hospital in unknown condition," a statement said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
Richie postponed concerts in June after feeling dizzy during a set and then checked into a hospital after a performance in August.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Corroborating evidence can include photos, texts, police reports, hospital records and witnesses, all of which must be handled in a specific way.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
They pulled up at the front door of the hospital.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Local hospitals are bracing for funding cuts, though a carve-out may keep many valley residents from losing coverage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
The other two hospitals were not found to have violated that law, and they did not respond to requests for comment.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
Trials are concentrated at a few large public hospitals with vast patient populations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
The funds will help repair damaged infrastructure, increase storage capacity and improve power supply to hospitals.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
I look up the hospitals close by and copy down the email addresses.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
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.
