hostel

[ hos-tl ]

noun

1. Also called youth hostel. an inexpensive, supervised lodging place for young people on bicycle trips, hikes, etc.
2. (formerly) a residence for the exclusive use of boarding Indigenous students, separate from but close to any of a series of day schools in northern Canada that were operated or funded by the federal government and were themselves open to students of any ethnicity. residential school ( def 2 ).
3. British. a student residence at a university or boarding school.
4. an inn.

verb (used without object)

, hos·teled, hos·tel·ing or (especially British) hos·telled, hos·tel·ling.

1. to travel, lodging each night at a hostel.

hostel

/ ˈhɒstəl /

noun

1. a building providing overnight accommodation, as for the homeless, etc
2. See youth hostel
3. a supervised lodging house for nurses, workers, etc
4. archaic.
   another word for hostelry

Word History and Origins

Origin of hostel¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English (h)ostel, from Old French, from Late Latin hospitāle “guest room”; hospital

Word History and Origins

Origin of hostel¹

C13: from Old French, from Medieval Latin hospitāle hospice; see hospital

Example Sentences

Lawrence has been released on parole five times but has been recalled every time - for being late back to a hostel, for going on the run and on other occasions because he got drunk or took drugs.

From BBC

Her business partner Bernadelle Richter, who originally hired her to perform folk music at an American Youth Hostel folk weekend, handled the business side of her career.

From Los Angeles Times

“Usually you go through management but we didn't have a chance to even find a hostel,” he says.

From BBC

Kateryna has lived with sponsors near Cowbridge and a hostel in Barry and said the new location of her home is "a dream".

From BBC

Since leaving her home in Kyiv when the war with Russia broke out, Kateryna Gorodnycha and her son have been living with sponsors and in a hostel.

From BBC

Related Words

• hotel
• inn