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

Many workers, especially in low-paying industries like hospitality and retail, experienced significant wage gains in 2022. —Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023

Many workers, especially in low-paying industries such as hospitality and retail, experienced significant wage gains in 2022. —Ben Casselman, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023

But there would be four seasons to experience, practicing in near-freezing temperatures and taking classes that would prepare you for working in the hospitality business. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2023

Superficially the rooms can be quite different, but culture and style of hospitality hopefully unites them. —Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2023

But child-care disruptions could threaten those gains and lead to worsening worker shortages in industries such as nursing, teaching and hospitality, which have all struggled to refill their ranks since the start of the pandemic. —Abha Bhattarai The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2023

But things are changing and the past few years have seen a handful of new hotels crop up in Sri Lanka, pushing the boundaries of hospitality. —Sophie Prideaux, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2023

Just as high-flying couture clients are no longer simply whisked away on flashy shopping trips but on transformative journeys, the standard-bearers of ultra-high-end travel hospitality have also, over the last decade, leaned into the realm of intrepid experiences. —Paul Jebara, Town & Country, 5 Sep. 2023

Ani said most of her family members work in Maui’s hospitality industry. —USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2023

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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

• hospitality suite

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