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

Two days later, investigators searched his hotel room and reported finding nearly 700 grams of cocaine, more than 70 grams of fentanyl, drug packaging materials and $13,867, according to authorities. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

That time frame, however, is not out of step with the extensive and thoughtful development process of most hotels under the prestigious Raffles banner. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026

The developers envision a larger district with housing, hotels, retail, restaurants, a card room and the city’s first movie theater, though future phases would require additional approvals. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Americans are familiar with prices that fluctuate when supply is scarce — say, seats on a plane or rooms at a hotel. — Lindsay Owens, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026

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
• boutique 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