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

When I last visited Ken in hospital, he had just tuned into a political debate on BBC Radio Five Live - he kept it on in the background as we chatted.

From BBC

In addition to considering a single-family home, the research also examined how well the technology would work in the lobby of a small hotel, a medium-size office building, and hospital patient rooms.

From Science Daily

She suffered multiple injuries when she fell forwards onto the floor and she died days later in hospital.

From BBC

However, Mr Dujarric said the aid workers were forced to offload all the food supplies and some of the medical supplies they were transporting at an Israeli military checkpoint before reaching the hospital.

From BBC

It calls for reducing Medicaid payments to hospitals, which keep some institutions, especially rural hospitals, fiscally afloat.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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