hospice
Americannoun
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a house of shelter or rest for pilgrims, strangers, etc., especially one kept by a religious order.
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Medicine/Medical.
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a healthcare facility for the terminally ill that emphasizes pain control and emotional support for the patient and family, typically refraining from taking extraordinary measures to prolong life.
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a similar program of care and support for the terminally ill at home or in a nursing home.
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noun
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a nursing home that specializes in caring for the terminally ill
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Also called: hospitium. archaic a place of shelter for travellers, esp one kept by a monastic order
Etymology
Origin of hospice
First recorded in 1810–20; from French, from Latin hospitium “hospitable reception, entertainment”; hospitium
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The defendants billed Medicare for reimbursement payments for hospice care for patients over several years, federal officials said, but many of those patients were not terminally ill.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026
Essayli accused the state of doing no vetting or checking when administering hospice licenses.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026
These sessions are part of free Living Well activities at the Pembury hospice, which plans to mark 10 years since the programme started by auctioning a piece of art made by participants.
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026
The hospice needs to raise £9m every year for a range of projects, including the ongoing refurbishment to create a new in-patient ward and Living Well area.
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026
Many staff thought it was time to call in hospice care for the man, but Farmer insisted cheerily, “He’s going to walk out of here.”
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
