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

Short’s company, which took over management of the building in March, will handle booking events, catering, management and other hospitality for the venue, and is booking events through 2026. —Corina Vanek, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025

Nontraditional hospitality is seeing growing traveler interest but is constrained by a lack of interest from financing sources. —Rafi Golberstein, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

Founded by architect Jose Hernandez, the firm designs residential and hospitality projects, from multiunit developments to single-family homes. —Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 7 July 2025

The president has vacillated in recent months between deporting all individuals who are in the country illegally and being sympathetic to farmers and hospitality executives who rely on such migrant workers for labor. —Brett Samuels, The Hill, 4 July 2025

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