motel

noun

mo·​tel mō-ˈtel 

: an establishment which provides lodging and parking and in which the rooms are usually accessible from an outdoor parking area

Examples of motel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After taking office in 2022, Bass declared a local emergency on homelessness and launched her Inside Safe initiative, which has put thousands of people into hotels and motels. —Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026

But then the Biden administration’s open borders policy had the government throwing tax dollars at hotels and motels all across the country just to house the overflow. —Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 5 Apr. 2026

But for Perez and others at the motel, the organizations have assembled a spontaneous network of like-minded people that have created a village of care. —Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026

There are a variety of hotels and motels located throughout the city, including a Holiday Inn Express. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

blend of motor and hotel

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for motel

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

Kids Definition

motel

noun

mo·​tel mō-ˈtel 

: a building or group of buildings which provide lodgings and in which the rooms are usually reached directly from an outdoor parking lot