hostess

1 of 2

noun

host·​ess ˈhō-stəs 

1

: a woman who entertains socially

2

a

: a woman in charge of a public dining room who seats diners

b

: a female employee on a public conveyance (such as an airplane) who manages the provisioning of food and attends passengers

c

: a woman who acts as a partner or companion to male patrons in a dance hall or bar

hostess

2 of 2

verb

hostessed; hostessing; hostesses

intransitive verb

: to act as hostess

transitive verb

: to serve as hostess to

Examples of hostess in a Sentence

Noun

We were greeted by our hostess.

She's the hostess of a popular talk show.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Guests may sample two teas as hostesses dressed in Victorian clothing describe the history of tea and offer instruction on tea etiquette. —Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2025

Classic Side Chairs Everyone appreciates a good combination of vintage and modern, so why not style some of your grandmother's classic side chairs along with a set of more contemporary host and hostess chairs? —Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 22 May 2025

Verb

Consider gifting your host or hostess over the holidays with a nice bottle of brandy. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024

Rather than stopping for a bottle of wine on the way to their home, buy the host or hostess something unique and useful this holiday season. —Genevieve Cepeda, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hostesse, ostesse "woman who receives guests, female innkeeper," borrowed from Anglo-French, from oste, hoste "host, guest" + -esse -ess — more at host entry 1

Verb

derivative of hostess entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1927, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing hostess

• air hostess
• co-hostess
• hostess with the mostest

Rhymes for hostess

• agrostis
• eragrostis

Kids Definition

hostess

noun

host·​ess

ˈhō-stəs

: a woman who acts as host

especially : one who greets and provides service for diners in a restaurant or passengers on an airplane or ship

hostess verb