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

Crafting a hotel bar is, apparently, a lost art—way too much attention is paid in the States to making the space archly designed. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026

The band, called Sponge, performed at The Fillmore Theatre in Silver Spring on Tuesday and was staying at the Holiday Inn hotel in College Park. — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

The Galleria West phase also includes 170 hotel rooms; 9,140 square feet of office space; 5,001 square feet of restaurant space; and 4,806 square feet of commercial space. — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

The hotel evolved into a highly specialized medical spa destination, combining a five-star hotel experience with longevity programs led by a team of doctors, therapists, and wellness experts. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 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