hospital

[ hos-pi-tl ]

noun

1. an institution in which sick or injured people are given medical or surgical treatment.
2. a similar establishment for the care of animals.
3. a repair shop for specific portable objects: doll hospital.

   violin hospital;

   doll hospital.

4. British. an institution supported by charity or taxes for people in need of care, as a children's home or nursing home.

hospital

/ ˈhɒspɪtəl /

noun

1. an institution for the medical, surgical, obstetric, or psychiatric care and treatment of patients
2. modifier having the function of a hospital

   a hospital ship

3. a repair shop for something specified

   a dolls' hospital

4. archaic.
   a charitable home, hospice, or school

Other Words From

• mini·hospi·tal noun
• multi·hospi·tal adjective
• post·hospi·tal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hospital¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (h)ospital, “lodging for pilgrims and travelers, hostel,” Old French (h)ospital, from Medieval Latin hospitāle “guesthouse, inn,” noun use of neuter of Latin hospitālis “hospitable,” equivalent to hospit- stem of hospes “guest, visitor, host” + -ālis -al ¹( def ); hospitium

Word History and Origins

Origin of hospital¹

C13: from Medieval Latin hospitāle hospice, from Latin hospitālis relating to a guest, from hospes, hospit- guest, host ¹

Example Sentences

He wears a mask in hospitals, he says, not for himself but for others.

From Washington Post

When Paul grew ill, Ryan, a hospital social worker, knew something was up.

From Washington Blade

By “equal visitation,” the statement was referring to a hospital policy that allows same-sex partners to have the same visitation privileges as legal family members to visit someone in the hospital.

From Washington Blade

Recommending against civilians wearing high-quality masks meant more high-quality masks could be sent to hospitals facing a flood of infected patients.

From Washington Post

Federal regulators focus on this statistic to evaluate — and sometimes penalize — transplant programs, giving hospitals across the country a reputational and financial incentive to game it.

From ProPublica

At St. Barnabas Hospital, Pellerano was listed in stable condition with wounds to his chest and arm.

From The Daily Beast

When the father arrived at the hospital, he was told that Andrew Dossi was in surgery, but the wounds were not life-threatening.

From The Daily Beast

By the time the ambulance arrived, over 10 minutes later, it was too late—Mills died soon after arriving at the hospital.

From The Daily Beast

At Woodhull Hospital, the Bed-Stuy ambulance crew kept doing all they could as they wheeled Ramos into the emergency room.

From The Daily Beast

Both officers were rushed to Woodhull Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

From The Daily Beast

On the night of June the 11th a red-hot cannon-ball set fire to one of the barracks which was used as a hospital.

From Project Gutenberg

At the pier at "W" were several big lighters filled with wounded who were about to be towed out to Hospital ships.

From Project Gutenberg

One or two priests of that order live in the hospital, and two others, lay brethren, act as nurses.

From Project Gutenberg

The hospital is in charge of a steward appointed by the governor, and is administered by the Order of St. Francis.

From Project Gutenberg

Half the army was in hospital from want of proper nourishment and commonsense sanitation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clinic
• emergency room
• hospice
• institution
• nursing home
• ward