hospice

noun

hos·​pice ˈhä-spəs 

1

: a lodging for travelers, young persons, or the underprivileged especially when maintained by a religious order

2

: a program designed to provide palliative care and emotional support to the terminally ill in a home or homelike setting so that quality of life is maintained and family members may be active participants in care

also : a facility that provides such a program

Synonyms

• auberge
• caravansary
• caravanserai
• hostel
• hostelry
• hotel
• inn
• lodge
• public house
• tavern

Examples of hospice in a Sentence

She chose to go to a hospice instead of a hospital.

the monks run a hospice for travelers in their mountain retreat

Recent Examples on the Web

Carter, who served as president for one term from 1977 to 1981, died at his home in Plains on Dec. 29 after spending almost two years in hospice care. —Bailey Richards, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025

Carter entered hospice care in February 2023 and died Dec. 29, 2024. —Lauryn Overhultz, Fox News, 10 Jan. 2025

His mother dying in hospice care and his teenage children (Sam McCarthy and Jayden Bartels) coming to stay at his Brooklyn home for the summer is enough. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 10 Jan. 2025

Carter had been in hospice care since February 2023, and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, died in November 2024. —Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French hospise, borrowed from Medieval Latin hospitium "hospitality, lodgings, monastic guesthouse, shelter maintained by a religious order for the poor and infirm," going back to Latin,"accommodation of guests, hired lodgings," from hospit-, hospes "guest, host" + -ium, denominal suffix of function or occupation — more at host entry 1

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hospice

noun

hos·​pice ˈhäs-pəs 

1

: an inn for travelers

especially : one kept by a religious order

2

: a place or program for caring for dying persons

Medical Definition

hospice

noun

hos·​pice ˈhäs-pəs 

: a facility or program designed to provide palliative care and emotional support to the terminally ill in a home or homelike setting so that quality of life is maintained and family members may be active participants in care