hospital

noun

hos·​pi·​tal ˈhä-(ˌ)spi-tᵊl How to pronounce hospital (audio)
often attributive
1
: a charitable institution for the needy, aged, infirm, or young
2
: an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care
usually used in British English without an article after a preposition
3
: a repair shop for specified small objects
a clock hospital

Examples of hospital in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
My husband has recently been in the hospital several times. R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025 Three days in the hospital and countless tests later, Onnen was diagnosed with leukemia. Bella Waters, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2025 Staff tried to revive him in the sally port of the center but he was declared dead 19 minutes later at 4:49 p.m. The man had just been released from a hospital and was entering custody for the first time, officials said. Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025 Among them was Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba on Thursday, the largest hospital in southern Israel. Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for hospital

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hospital, ospitale "residence for pilgrims and travelers, charitable institution providing residence for the poor and infirm," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin hospitāle, going back to Latin, in plural hospitālia "guest accommodations" (probably by ellipsis from hospitāle cubiculum "sleeping room for guests"), noun derivative from neuter of hospitālis "of a guest, of hospitality, hospitable," from hospit-, hospes "guest, host" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at host entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hospital was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Hospital.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hospital. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

hospital

noun
hos·​pi·​tal ˈhäs-ˌpit-ᵊl How to pronounce hospital (audio)
: an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care
Etymology

Middle English hospital "a stopping place for travelers, a place that cares for people too old, sick, or poor to care for themselves," from early French hospital (same meaning), derived from Latin hospitale "hospice, guest house," from hospitalis "of a guest," from hospit-, hospes "host, stranger, guest," from hostis "stranger, enemy" — related to hospitality, host entry 1, host entry 2, hostile, hotel

Medical Definition

hospital

noun
hos·​pi·​tal ˈhäs-ˌpit-ᵊl How to pronounce hospital (audio)
often attributive
1
: a charitable institution for the needy, aged, infirm, or young
2
a
: an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care
when used in British English following a preposition, the article is usually omitted
came and saw me in hospitalRobert Graves
b
: a place for the care and treatment of sick and injured animals
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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