motel

noun

mo·​tel mō-ˈtel 

: an establishment which provides lodging and parking and in which the rooms are usually accessible from an outdoor parking area

Examples of motel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The hospitality wage and the enforcement fee only apply to hotels and motels with 150 or more rooms — roughly 110 properties. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026

The city of Fort Worth is asking a Tarrant County court to declare an East Lancaster Avenue motel a common nuisance, and force its ownership to fix what the city alleges are years of persistent criminal activity. — Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026

More budget-conscious visitors can snag a great deal at the handful of Stone Harbor motels. — Kathleen O’Neill, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026

Authorities are investigating a fire outside a Wilmington motel Friday night that may have been ignited by fireworks. — Jasmine Mendez follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

blend of motor and hotel

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for motel

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids Definition

motel

noun

mo·​tel mō-ˈtel 

: a building or group of buildings which provide lodgings and in which the rooms are usually reached directly from an outdoor parking lot