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

• 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

In an interview with The Washington Post a month after her husband’s death, Shay described her final moments with him, remembering his desire to watch the entire original trilogy of Indiana Jones films after leaving hospice care to return home. —Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025

Police arrested a Boise woman for allegedly stealing jewelry from her hospice patients. —Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 30 Sep. 2025

California better have 'movie-making hospice' on speed-dial, because the outlook isn't good. —Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025

He was admitted to hospice last week. —R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025

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