no-host

[ noh-hohst ]

adjective

, Chiefly Western U.S.

1. requiring patrons and guests to pay a fee for attendance or to pay for any food and drink they consume:

   a no-host cocktail party; a no-host dinner-dance.

Example Sentences

Adults will take over the entire Seattle Aquarium for this spooky event, featuring disc jockeys, live music, a costume contest, opportunities to experience aquarium habitats at night, Halloween-themed activities, a no-host bar, food available for purchase and more.

From Seattle Times

Adults will take over Seattle Aquarium at this 21-and-older event featuring a disc jockey, drag performances, opportunities to explore marine habitats at night, a no-host bar, food available for purchase and more.

From Seattle Times

Invitations come with the term “no-host,” which invitees are supposed to surmise means they’re paying for their own meal.

From Washington Post

Although the SAG Awards will continue its no-host tradition, “Hamilton” stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom Jr. are confirmed to open tonight’s ceremony.

From Los Angeles Times

But Hopkins wasn't present, and didn't send a proxy to accept the statue in his place, so the no-host telecast ended abruptly and left a sour aftertaste.

From Salon

More About No-Host

What does no-host mean?

No-host describes an event, such as a party, at which the guests must pay for their own food and drink or pay an entry fee.

A Western US term, no-host is almost always used in reference to a party or similar event at which attendees pay to enter or pay for any food or drink they consume. You might go to a no-host dinner, a no-host networking event, a no-host dance—any type of event that requires you to pay to enter or for food and drink or both. 

Sometimes no-host is used more literally to describe an event that lacks a host, especially an event that usually has a host. The 2019 Academy Awards didn’t have a host and was commonly described as a no-host award show. 

Example: I got invited to some fancy no-host party for Independence Day, but I don’t know if I have the money for another one of these.

Where does no-host come from?

The first records of the term no-host come from around the 1960s. It combines the terms no and host to describe an event as having no financial backer or “host.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some words that share a root or word element with no-host? 

• no-show
• no sir
• host
• host computer

What are some words that often get used in discussing no-host?

• bill
• event
• invitation
• party
• payment

How is no-host used in real life?

No-host is usually used in the Western United States to refer to an event you have to pay a fee to attend.

Getting ready to go to the No-Host Oscars.
Have no idea what to expect.
Is it like a No-Host bar?
Open mic night?
One thing is for sure —
— tomorrow it’s back to work.

— Brad Bird (@BradBirdA113) February 24, 2019

FREE Open-to-the-Public at #SFWC19 2/16 7:00PM AN EVENING OF POETRY & JAZZ An open mic. Share your poems and very short stories, too. No-host bar & original music with celebrity poet band—COPUS!

— SFWC is for Writers! (@SFWC) February 11, 2019

Young Professionals Organization (YPO) Mixer TONIGHT | 5:30p.m. Woodstock's Pizza | No RSVP | No-Host Bar | All welcome to join at Mixers!

— Chico Chamber (@ChicoChamber) March 16, 2016

 

Try using no-host!

Is no-host used correctly in the following sentence?

“The ticket price for the hospital’s no-host party was high, but some of the money will help fund the new surgery rooms.”