hospitality

noun

hos·​pi·​tal·​i·​ty ˌhä-spə-ˈta-lə-tē 

plural hospitalities

1

: hospitable treatment, reception, or disposition

thanked our hosts for their hospitality

2

: the activity or business of providing services to guests in hotels, restaurants, bars, etc.

—usually used before another noun

a hospitality suite

Valet parking may be the most commonplace, least understood corner of the hospitality industry.

—Bruce Feiler

… has turned the hospitality business upside down with his far-out hotel designs …

—Robert Herzbrun

Examples of hospitality in a Sentence

It was refreshing to be met with such hospitality after our long journey.

Recent Examples on the Web

Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Florida International University (FIU) and its students preparing to work in the hospitality industry. —Erin Clements, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025

State of play: Quail Hollow has already surpassed Valhalla (host of the 2024 PGA Championship) in corporate hospitality sales, Johnny Harris, the president of Quail Hollow Club and a prominent Charlotte developer, tells Axios. —Ashley Mahoney, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025

As mainstream hospitality struggles to grasp the cultural nuance and deeper sensibilities that define new paradigm luxury—often leaning into standards that feel overly manufactured—Las Alamandas remains a timeless exception. —Ashlee Marie Preston, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

The tip-heavy hospitality industry comprises more than a fifth of all jobs in the state. —Rishi Kant, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hospitalite "reception of guests, provision of lodging," borrowed from Anglo-French hospitalité, borrowed from Latin hospitālitāt-, hospitālitās "entertainment of guests," from Latin hospitālis "of a guest, of hospitality, hospitable" (from hospit-, hospes "guest, host" + -ālis -al entry 1) + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at host entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hospitality

• hospitality suite

Rhymes for hospitality

• abnormality
• cardinality
• commonality
• communality
• cordiality
• corporeality
• criminality
• criticality
• functionality
• generality
• geniality
• illegality

Kids Definition

hospitality

noun

hos·​pi·​tal·​i·​ty ˌhäs-pə-ˈtal-ət-ē 

plural hospitalities

: generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests

Etymology

Middle English hospitalite "hospitality," from early French hospitalité (same meaning), derived from Latin hospitale "of a guest, showing hospitality," from hospit-, hospes "host, stranger, guest" — related to hospital, host entry 2, hotel