hospitable

adjective

hos·​pi·​ta·​ble hä-ˈspi-tə-bəl  ˈhä-(ˌ)spi- 

1

a

: given to generous and cordial reception of guests

a kind, hospitable people

They are hospitable … : give a guest everything, and leave him free to do as he likes.

—Bram Stoker

b

: promising or suggesting generous and friendly welcome

hospitable faces

c

: offering a pleasant or sustaining environment

grows in even the least hospitable climates

2

: readily receptive : open

hospitable to new ideas

hospitably

hä-ˈspi-tə-blē 

ˈhä-(ˌ)spi-

adverb

Synonyms

• affable
• cordial
• genial
• gracious
• sociable

Examples of hospitable in a Sentence

The people of that country are very hospitable.

It's a hearty plant that grows in even the least hospitable climates.

elderly people moving to Florida for its hospitable climate

Recent Examples on the Web

Furthermore, a focused approach to marketing Elgin as a hospitable destination for investment could yield substantial long-term benefits. —Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025

Planting a pollinator garden with milkweed (the only plant the butterflies will lay eggs on) and nectar-producing plants (for eating) can provide a hospitable habitat for migrating monarchs. —Jessica Boehm, Axios, 20 Mar. 2025

Burrows’ reform, proponents note, makes the state regulatory climate more hospitable to employers, saving them from having to navigate a patchwork of variable and costly local regulations. —Patrick Gleason, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

The names of the beers on tap all have local ties and the family that runs the place is hospitable. —Trudy Haywood Saunders, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin hospitābilis, from hospitāre "to lodge, reside, give lodging to, house" (going back to Latin hospitārī "to put up as a guest, give lodging to," derivative of hospit-, hospes "guest, host") + Latin -bilis "capable (of acting) or worthy (of being acted upon)" — more at host entry 1, -able

First Known Use

circa 1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

hospitable

adjective

hos·​pi·​ta·​ble hä-ˈspit-ə-bəl  ˈhäs-(ˌ)pit- 

1

: generous and friendly in entertaining guests

2

a

: pleasant sense 2, inviting

a hospitable inn

b

: offering a pleasant or healthful environment

a hospitable climate

3

: open entry 1 sense 7

hospitable to new ideas

hospitably

-blē 

adverb