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

Caliber reported a decrease in consolidated funds' hospitality revenues to $23.5 million from $52.0 million, primarily due to the deconsolidation of Caliber Hospitality, LP. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024

While targeting the hospitality sector with the new collection, Moses said her wallpaper designs are suitable for restaurants, hospitals, office buildings and other commercial spaces. —David Moin, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024

Live entertainment and hospitality trailblazer Spiegelworld and Caesars Entertainment embrace the revival by creating Discoshow, a fully immersive production, restaurant (Diner Ross) and bars (99 Prince and Glitterloft) that transport the disco-curious back to 1970s New York City. —Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024

Early results showed Glendale voters widely rejecting Proposition 499, which sought to give hospitality workers a $20-an-hour minimum wage. —Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

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

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