hospital

noun

hos·​pi·​tal ˈhä-(ˌ)spi-tᵊl How to pronounce hospital (audio)
often attributive
1
: a charitable institution for the needy, aged, infirm, or young
2
: an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care
usually used in British English without an article after a preposition
3
: a repair shop for specified small objects
a clock hospital

Examples of hospital in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 142 injuries related to the wildfires were reported to state hospitals. Ginger Zee, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2025 Explosions could be heard throughout Gaza, and at least 69 people were killed in the morning airstrikes, according to four hospitals that received the bodies. Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025 Less than 1% of those were performed in a hospital. Michelle Watson, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025 The injured were rushed to hospitals across the country. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 16 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hospital

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hospital, ospitale "residence for pilgrims and travelers, charitable institution providing residence for the poor and infirm," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin hospitāle, going back to Latin, in plural hospitālia "guest accommodations" (probably by ellipsis from hospitāle cubiculum "sleeping room for guests"), noun derivative from neuter of hospitālis "of a guest, of hospitality, hospitable," from hospit-, hospes "guest, host" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at host entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hospital was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Hospital.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hospital. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

hospital

noun
hos·​pi·​tal ˈhäs-ˌpit-ᵊl How to pronounce hospital (audio)
: an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care
Etymology

Middle English hospital "a stopping place for travelers, a place that cares for people too old, sick, or poor to care for themselves," from early French hospital (same meaning), derived from Latin hospitale "hospice, guest house," from hospitalis "of a guest," from hospit-, hospes "host, stranger, guest," from hostis "stranger, enemy" — related to hospitality, host entry 1, host entry 2, hostile, hotel

Medical Definition

hospital

noun
hos·​pi·​tal ˈhäs-ˌpit-ᵊl How to pronounce hospital (audio)
often attributive
1
: a charitable institution for the needy, aged, infirm, or young
2
a
: an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care
when used in British English following a preposition, the article is usually omitted
came and saw me in hospitalRobert Graves
b
: a place for the care and treatment of sick and injured animals
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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