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

When hosting a cocktail hour, how does the hostess gracefully navigate the quantity of food served? —Judith Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 May 2025

Clara’s Table restaurant is Dearborn Inn’s tribute to Henry Ford’s wife, Clara, a passionate horticulturist and gracious hostess. —Devorah Lev-Tov, AFAR Media, 9 Apr. 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