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

Emergency medical personnel responded immediately, and the student was transported to the hospital to receive medical care. —Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025

After 57 days in the hospital that included rehabilitation and the left half of her skull being removed to treat the swelling in her brain, Sophia Forchas was escorted through the streets of the city, a video posted by Mayor Jacob Frey on social media Thursday showed. —Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025

Imaging tools come into play The team then used imaging tools, such as hospital and micro-CT scans, thin sections, X-ray spectroscopy, clay analyses, and examination of the discovery site. —Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025

Jimenez’s union, SEIU-UHW, represents thousands of frontline health care workers including nursing home caregivers, respiratory therapists and hospital staff. —Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 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