hospice

noun

hos·​pice ˈhä-spəs 

1

: a lodging for travelers, young persons, or the underprivileged especially when maintained by a religious order

2

: a program designed to provide palliative care and emotional support to the terminally ill in a home or homelike setting so that quality of life is maintained and family members may be active participants in care

also : a facility that provides such a program

Synonyms of hospice

• hotel
• hostel
• tavern

Examples of hospice in a Sentence

She chose to go to a hospice instead of a hospital.

the monks run a hospice for travelers in their mountain retreat

Recent Examples on the Web

The way Robby is handling the increasingly complicated situation with hospice patient Roxie is also an exemplary display of his empathy. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026

If hospice patients can grow and change at the end of life, why not grow and change now? —Arianna Huffington, Time, 16 Feb. 2026

The hospice is more like a sanitarium, a European spa our parents might have frequented before the war. —Literary Hub, 16 Feb. 2026

They were sent by Sullivan's friend who is a Tibetan nun and created by children in a pediatric hospice who make the flowers to lift the spirits of others who are struggling. —Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 12 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French hospise, borrowed from Medieval Latin hospitium "hospitality, lodgings, monastic guesthouse, shelter maintained by a religious order for the poor and infirm," going back to Latin,"accommodation of guests, hired lodgings," from hospit-, hospes "guest, host" + -ium, denominal suffix of function or occupation — more at host entry 1

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hospice

noun

hos·​pice ˈhäs-pəs 

1

: an inn for travelers

especially : one kept by a religious order

2

: a place or program for caring for dying persons

Medical Definition

hospice

noun

hos·​pice ˈhäs-pəs 

: a facility or program designed to provide palliative care and emotional support to the terminally ill in a home or homelike setting so that quality of life is maintained and family members may be active participants in care