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

Statewide statistics cited by the CHA come from a survey of its 400 member hospitals in 2023. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2024

Because of an editing error, an article on Friday about bodies discovered in a mass grave near a hospital in Gaza misstated the timing of the initial burials. —New York Times, 27 Apr. 2024

Case in point: hospitals acquired more than 44,000 independent practices from 2019 to 2024. —Patrick Skerrett, STAT, 27 Apr. 2024

Martel Llewellyn, one person was shot and flown to a hospital by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue paramedics. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2024

Prosecutors said the assault happened because of a fight over trash cans — the victim was reportedly left with a fractured skull and nearly bled to death on the way to the hospital. —Jacklyn Krol, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2024

Neither had traveled internationally or visited human hospitals. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024

Williams underwent surgeries to repair her multiple brain and spinal injuries immediately after she was admitted to a hospital. —Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024

The driver of the Ford, a 17-year-old boy from El Dorado, was injured and taken to a local hospital. —Remington Miller, arkansasonline.com, 16 Apr. 2024

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

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