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

Crane, who also has a background in the hospitality and music industries, teamed up with the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce and several other local partners to brainstorm the event and brought it to the City Council for discussion. —Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2025

The dramatically more dignified The Six Bells Countryside Inn, a quaint new hospitality project by Audrey Gelman. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 25 June 2025

It’s been more than a week since Unite Here Local 26, a local chapter of the hospitality union that represents employees at Fenway Park, authorized a strike against Aramark. —Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 24 June 2025

Atomix—fresh off a best hospitality win at the James Beard Awards—is the only American restaurant in the top 50. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 20 June 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