hospitality

noun

hos·​pi·​tal·​i·​ty ˌhä-spə-ˈta-lə-tē 

plural hospitalities

1

: hospitable treatment, reception, or disposition

thanked our hosts for their hospitality

2

: the activity or business of providing services to guests in hotels, restaurants, bars, etc.

—usually used before another noun

a hospitality suite

Valet parking may be the most commonplace, least understood corner of the hospitality industry.

—Bruce Feiler

… has turned the hospitality business upside down with his far-out hotel designs …

—Robert Herzbrun

Examples of hospitality in a Sentence

It was refreshing to be met with such hospitality after our long journey.

Recent Examples on the Web

Spanning both Coachella weekends, the four poolside shows blend electronic music with the venue's wave pool, lazy river, and open-air amphitheater — creating a unique daytime oasis of surf, sound and hospitality. —Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026

The former luxury resort will be brought down to make way for a new residential and hospitality development. —Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026

Childress brings a consummate sense of hospitality to the restaurant, as does beverage director Danny Rubenstein, whose big-hearted presence plenty of us recall at Here’s Looking at You. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

Even before Operation Metro Surge upended the state’s economy and the restaurant sector in particular, Minnesota’s hospitality industry struggled significantly in 2025, according to a new report from industry group Hospitality Minnesota and public relations and policy firm Fluence Advisory. —Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hospitalite "reception of guests, provision of lodging," borrowed from Anglo-French hospitalité, borrowed from Latin hospitālitāt-, hospitālitās "entertainment of guests," from Latin hospitālis "of a guest, of hospitality, hospitable" (from hospit-, hospes "guest, host" + -ālis -al entry 1) + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at host entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hospitality

• hospitality suite

Rhymes for hospitality

• abnormality
• cardinality
• commonality
• communality
• cordiality
• corporeality
• criminality
• criticality
• functionality
• generality
• geniality
• illegality

Kids Definition

hospitality

noun

hos·​pi·​tal·​i·​ty ˌhäs-pə-ˈtal-ət-ē 

plural hospitalities

: generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests

Etymology

Middle English hospitalite "hospitality," from early French hospitalité (same meaning), derived from Latin hospitale "of a guest, showing hospitality," from hospit-, hospes "host, stranger, guest" — related to hospital, host entry 2, hotel