Main Entry: hos·pi·tal·iza·tion

Variant(s): or chiefly British hos·pi·tal·isa·tion \ˌhäs-(ˌ)pit-^əl-ə-ˈzā-shən\

Function: noun

1 : the act or process of being hospitalized <pain persisted constantly through a two-day period, finally necessitating hospitalization—Journal of the American Medical Association>
2 : the period of stay in a hospital <drug treatment shortened the length of hospitalization—Today's Health>