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

Noun

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

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

Even just a few weeks after opening, The Manner already has the rare thing that so many hotels profess to offer, but aren’t always able to achieve: the genuine feeling of being at a home away from home. —Liam Hess, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2024

Business travelers can select flight seats, hotel rooms, workspaces, and meeting locations based on personal preference. —Phil Kirschner, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

The postponement of the U.S. dates came after Payne’s death in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Oct. 16 at age 31 following a fall from the balcony of his hotel room. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2024

And The Rest Will Follow Director: Pelin Esmer Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania Dreamy housekeeper Aliye spends her days between hotel rooms, escaping into the lives of the guests. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2024

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

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