hospital

noun

hos·​pi·​tal ˈhä-(ˌ)spi-tᵊl 

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

People who are obese, over 65, or have darker skin may be more at risk for deficiency—and about 50% to 60% of nursing home residents and patients in hospitals are vitamin D deficient. —Erica Sweeney, Time, 28 May 2025

The orchestra outreach includes education with public schools; performances in hospitals; and performing with Opera Carolina, Charlotte Ballet and Charlotte Master Chorale. —Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2025

William Oiler, 44, Harvey, was charged May 23 with leaving the scene of a personal-injury collision in connection with a May 22 head-on collision on Interstate 57 that sent an Illinois State Trooper to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, police said. —Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025

Grass was taken to the hospital to be treated for a broken nose, among other injuries, police said. —Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2025

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

Phrases Containing hospital

• cottage hospital
• hospital corner
• hospital gown
• inter-hospital
• multi-hospital
• teaching hospital

Rhymes for hospital

• acquittal
• belittle
• committal
• submittal
• transmittal
• brittle
• kittel
• kittle
• little
• spital
• spittle
• tittle

Kids Definition

hospital

noun

hos·​pi·​tal ˈhäs-ˌpit-ᵊl 

: 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 

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 hospital

—Robert Graves

b

: a place for the care and treatment of sick and injured animals