hospitality

noun

hos·pi·tal·i·ty | \ ˌhä-spə-ˈta-lə-tē

plural hospitalities

Definition of hospitality

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 suiteValet 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

Instawork—which matches restaurants and hospitality businesses with job-seeking waiters, cooks and dishwashers. — Tomio Geron, WSJ, "Uber Investor Bill Gurley Backs Instawork for Hospitality Gig Work," 27 Feb. 2019 The training gives real skills and the foundation to work in high-end hospitality. — Pilar Guzmán, Condé Nast Traveler, "South Africa’s Other Big Five," 20 Dec. 2018 Before his job with Casamigos, Brooksbank worked in the hospitality business, in roles at various pubs like Admiral Codrington and the Markham Inn. — Temi Adebowale, Harper's BAZAAR, "Here's How Princess Eugenie's Fiancé Jack Brooksbank Is Connected to George Clooney," 8 Oct. 2018 Damon Lawrence and Marcus Carey are two Howard University grads who are venturing into the hospitality business. — Montana Couser, The Root, "Howard Grads Do It For the Culture With Homage Hospitality Hotels," 3 July 2018 Florida’s hospitality business represents a $112 billion industry, $11 billion in local and state tax revenue, with 116 million visitors in 2017 and nearly 1.4 million employees, making it a powerful driver for Florida’s future. — miamiherald, "Leigh-Ann Buchanan," 30 June 2018 For example, an association plan could charge companies that employ construction workers higher premiums than firms that are in the hospitality business. — Michelle Andrews, Washington Post, "Thinking About An Association Health Plan? Read The Fine Print," 26 June 2018 Shahid Khan, who also owns English Championship side Fulham, is prepared to pay more than £500m for Wembley - but will allow the FA to keep hold of its hospitality business, Club Wembley, which is valued at a further £300m. — SI.com, "Explaining Why the FA Selling Wembley Stadium May Not Be the Worst Idea," 13 May 2018 Sweetbitter Is a Journey into the Seven Circles of Restaurant Hell Jason Bell The new Starz show gets a lot right about the hospitality business, from horny dalliances with coworkers to the soft bigotry of male expectations. — Crissy Milazzo, GQ, "Sweetbitter Is a Journey into the Seven Circles of Restaurant Hell," 7 May 2018

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

History and Etymology for hospitality

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 3