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

Prior to founding Betty Jo’s Creamery in Brooklyn, New York, Erin Forden and Maddie Nehlen had full-time jobs in the hospitality tech space, an area where AI was looming large. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

But now days after the final, local hospitality professionals say the weeks of the World Cup weren’t the boon promised, and for some, the event may have sidelined other potential business. — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026

Co-founder Johann Redelinghuys, originally from South Africa, has more than 30 years of hospitality experience and almost 20 years of working on cruise ships around the world. — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026

In 1993, Portland businessman Scott Lindsay purchased the building and has since partnered with local hospitality management group Fathom Companies to manage and operate it. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 July 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