hotel

1 of 2

noun

ho·​tel hō-ˈtel 

ˈhō-ˌtel

: an establishment that provides lodging and usually meals, entertainment, and various personal services for the public : inn

hoteldom

hō-ˈtel-dəm 

ˈhō-ˌtel-

noun

Hotel

2 of 2

communications code word

—used as a code word for the letter h

Synonyms of hotel

Noun

• hostel
• tavern
• motel

Examples of hotel in a Sentence

Noun

check out of a hotel

for their 50th anniversary they stayed at one of the finest hotels in San Francisco

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The government has arranged accommodation in hotels and youth hostels for the next few weeks, but finding more permanent accommodation for them in a city notorious for its tight housing market will be a challenge. —Shawna Kwan, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025

There is no shortage of things to do at this hotel, and one activity option includes a ride above Pearl Harbor in a vintage Warbird. —Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2025

In fact, the star — who portrayed hotel employee Mook in season three of the HBO hit The White Lotus this year — took an extra step to make her contribution to season 12 of Fortnite Festival extra personal. —Anna Chan, Billboard, 28 Nov. 2025

The trio snuggled up to watch two other cute sisters — Bluey and her little sibling, Bingo — on a tablet propped up in bed in what appeared to be a hotel room. —Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French hôtel, going back to Old French hostel, ostel "lodging, accommodation" — more at hostel entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1687, in the meaning defined above

Communications Code Word

1951, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hotel

• apartment hotel

Rhymes for hotel

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids Definition

hotel

noun

ho·​tel hō-ˈtel 

: an establishment that provides lodging and often meals, entertainment, and personal services for its guests

Etymology

Noun

from French hôtel "hotel," from early French hostel "a place for travelers to spend the night," derived from Latin hospitalis "of a guest, showing hospitality," from hospit-, hospes "host, stranger, guest" — related to hospital, hospitality