hospitable

adjective

hos·​pi·​ta·​ble hä-ˈspi-tə-bəl  ˈhä-(ˌ)spi- 

1

a

: given to generous and cordial reception of guests

a kind, hospitable people

they are hospitable … : give a guest everything, and leave him free to do as he likes

—Bram Stoker

b

: promising or suggesting generous and friendly welcome

hospitable faces

c

: offering a pleasant or sustaining environment

grows in even the least hospitable climates

2

: readily receptive : open

hospitable to new ideas

hospitably

hä-ˈspi-tə-blē 

ˈhä-(ˌ)spi-

adverb

Synonyms

• affable
• cordial
• genial
• gracious
• sociable

Examples of hospitable in a Sentence

The people of that country are very hospitable.

It's a hearty plant that grows in even the least hospitable climates.

elderly people moving to Florida for its hospitable climate

Recent Examples on the Web

The cityscape has become a hospitable home to the pollinators. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 29 July 2023

To be recognized as a state’s most hospitable, a host had to earn at least 100 reviews with 100% five-star ratings for cleanliness, check-in and communication. —Lawrence Specker | [e-mail], al, 27 July 2023

The hope was that these crushes—which were rarely communicated to their subjects—signaled that our hearts might someday soften up and become, once again, hospitable to life. —Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2023

Instead of flying into Milwaukee to let his rivals take shots at the king, Trump opted for a more hospitable option: a Tucker Carlson interview aired on X, formerly known as Twitter. —Eric Cortellessa, Time, 24 Aug. 2023

The medical and biopharma hub of Massachusetts might not seem like the most hospitable turf from which to argue against overreaches of the drug and health care industries. —Robert Weisman, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2023

For the second time since 2021, the proprietor of a Fairhope horse farm where you can overnight in an Airstream has been named Airbnb’s most hospitable host in Alabama. —Lawrence Specker | [e-mail], al, 27 July 2023

There may be no ecosystem on Earth that seems less hospitable than hydrothermal vents. —Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 9 Aug. 2023

Airbnb named the most hospitable host in every state earlier this summer, selecting the winners who had at least 100 reviews and achieved 100 percent 5-star ratings in cleanliness, check-in and communication. —Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin hospitābilis, from hospitāre "to lodge, reside, give lodging to, house" (going back to Latin hospitārī "to put up as a guest, give lodging to," derivative of hospit-, hospes "guest, host") + Latin -bilis "capable (of acting) or worthy (of being acted upon)" — more at host entry 1, -able

First Known Use

circa 1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

hospitable

adjective

hos·​pi·​ta·​ble hä-ˈspit-ə-bəl  ˈhäs-(ˌ)pit- 

1

: generous and friendly in entertaining guests

2

a

: pleasant sense 2, inviting

a hospitable inn

b

: offering a pleasant or healthful environment

a hospitable climate

3

: open entry 1 sense 7

hospitable to new ideas

hospitably

-blē 

adverb