hospital

noun, often attributive hos·pi·tal \ ˈhä-(ˌ)spi-tᵊl \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

1 : a charitable institution for the needy, aged, infirm, or young

2 : an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care —usually used in British English without an article after a preposition

3 : a repair shop for specified small objects

a clock hospital

See hospital defined for English-language learners

See hospital defined for kids

Recent Examples of hospital from the Web

The other finalists are Herb Buchanan, most recently president of the academic medical centers for Indiana University, and Kate Becker, president of the primary teaching hospital of Saint Louis University.

— todd ackerman, Houston Chronicle, "UTMB-Galveston second in command a finalist for New Mexico job," 13 Apr. 2018
More from the HardWIRED series Pepper works as a hospital greeter, but roaming the halls is another more mobile robot called Tug, which autonomously delivers drugs and food.

— matt simon, WIRED, "Catching up With Pepper, the Surprisingly Helpful Humanoid Robot," 13 Apr. 2018
Nonprofits, including hospitals and research institutions, are exempt from the cap.

— natasha bach, Fortune, "H-1B Visa Applications Are Down for the Second Year in A Row," 13 Apr. 2018
One of Boundless Mind’s new clients, AppliedVR, provides virtual-reality therapy to patients with chronic and acute pain at 190 hospitals nationwide.

— haley sweetland edwards, Time, "You're Addicted to Your Smartphone. This Company Thinks It Can Change That," 13 Apr. 2018
The family of Dayna Brons said the 25-year-old died in a Saskatoon, Sasakatchewan hospital from injuries sustained in last week’s accident.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Death toll from bus crash rises to 16," 12 Apr. 2018
More information is at . Hospital offers class on reflux Community Hospital will present Stop Reflux at its Source from 6-7 p.m. Thursday at the hospital, 901 MacArthur Blvd.

— staff report, Post-Tribune, "Community news," 12 Apr. 2018
Police said Poulopoulos was treated and released from an Aurora hospital Wednesday, and there were no other injuries.

— hannah leone, Aurora Beacon-News, "Two men charged in Aurora gas station robbery," 12 Apr. 2018
Typically, such samples are obtained through hospitals and or collected by U.S. or foreign intelligence assets on the ground.

— NBC News, "U.S. officials: Blood samples show nerve agent, chlorine in Syria gas attack," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hospital.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of hospital

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin hospitale hospice, guest house, from neuter of Latin hospitalis of a guest, from hospit-, hospes

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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HOSPITAL Defined for English Language Learners

hospital

noun

: a place where sick or injured people are given care or treatment and where children are often born

HOSPITAL Defined for Kids

hospital

noun hos·pi·tal \ ˈhä-ˌspi-tᵊl \

: a place where the sick and injured are given medical care

Medical Dictionary

hospital

noun, often attributive hos·pi·tal \ ˈhäs-ˌpit-ᵊl \

1 : a charitable institution for the needy, aged, infirm, or young

2 a : an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care —when used in British English following a preposition, the article is usually omitted

came and saw me in hospital
—Robert Graves

b : a place for the care and treatment of sick and injured animals

Learn More about hospital

See words that rhyme with hospital Spanish Central: Translation of hospital Nglish: Translation of hospital for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hospital for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hospital

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