hostess

noun host·ess \ ˈhō-stəs \

|Updated on: 7 Jun 2018

Definition of hostess

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

See hostess defined for English-language learners

See hostess defined for kids

Examples of hostess in a Sentence

We were greeted by our hostess.
She's the hostess of a popular talk show.

Recent Examples of hostess from the Web

So, the hostess wants to seat people according to sections.

— CBS News, "Millennials talk racial bias in restaurant industry," 4 June 2018
Jean will be remembered fondly as the consummate hostess filling her home with warmth and laughter.

— courant.com, "Jean Martino," 27 May 2018
Another cool touch is the vertical record player at the hostess stand, which spins vinyl from The Clash to Tribe Called Quest.

— greg morago, Houston Chronicle, "Chris Shepherd quietly opens UB Preserv in Montrose," 9 May 2018
And of course there was No Doubt the hostess with the mostest would ask about Stefani's long-term relationship with Blake Shelton.

— erin jensen, USA TODAY, "Gwen Stefani talks Vegas residency, says she thinks about marrying Blake Shelton 'all the time'," 10 Apr. 2018
Another reason: All the proceeds go to a charity of the hostess’s choosing.

— jennifer fernandez, ELLE Decor, "Here's Why Playing Poker Is The Best Way To Spend Your Next Ladies Night," 2 Apr. 2018
Witnesses also reported the men tried to trip the airline hostesses, police said.

— ashleigh r wilson, azcentral, "Yes, it really happened on an airport tarmac in metro Phoenix," 29 July 2016
This week in food and drink: Cafes, coffee and tea Royal Park Hotel, Rochester, Mich. Reeves singles out this room because of longtime hostess Mary Kuhn, who carefully attends to regulars and newcomers alike, personally preparing each pot of tea.

— larry bleiberg, USA TODAY, "10 traditional tea rooms perfect for Mother’s Day," 4 May 2018
She was introduced to Trades of Hope by a former His Mansion Ministries colleague, Leah Lloyd-Jones, who organized a Trades of Hope party while Linda was the hostess.

— julie gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Linda Hogue answers call to help others," 2 May 2018

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

First Known Use of hostess

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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Other Job Terms

factotum, milliner, ostler, scrivener, tinker, webster, wordsmith

hostess

verb

Definition of hostess

hostessed; hostessing; hostesses

intransitive verb

: to act as hostess

transitive verb

: to serve as hostess to

First Known Use of hostess

1927

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

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HOSTESS Defined for English Language Learners

hostess

noun

Definition of hostess for English Language Learners

: a woman who is entertaining guests socially or as a job
: a woman whose job it is to greet and help people in a restaurant or on an airplane or ship
: a woman who talks to guests on a television or radio show