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

So much of central Zurich continued to build around this hub, and the hotel grew into a notable gathering spot for guests like Charles Dickens, composer Franz Liszt, and later on former US president Bill Clinton. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026

This hospital interior looks like a hotel, its curtains and walls in matching pink. — Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026

Jaswill Portable Door Lock The pocket-sized device adds an extra barrier to your hotel room door, preventing it from being opened from the outside—even with a key. — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 24 Sep. 2026

Travel rewards can be an excellent way to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses, especially for flights and hotels. — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 24 Sep. 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