hospitality
Americannoun
plural
hospitalities-
the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers.
Hospitality at the hotel is fantastic, with staff who offered us refreshing drinks and comfortable chairs while we waited to check in.
-
the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.
In many cultures, hospitality plays a significant role in social interactions, as individuals are often judged by their ability to extend kindness and generosity toward others.
- Synonyms:
- friendliness, geniality, cordiality, warmth
-
the business or act of providing accommodation, food, drink, and other services to guests (often used attributively).
She has held several executive-level positions in hospitality.
This course will appeal to students who want to make a career for themselves in the hospitality industry.
noun
-
kindness in welcoming strangers or guests
-
receptiveness
Etymology
Origin of hospitality
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English hospitalite, from Middle French, from Latin hospitālitās, from hospitāli(s) “of a guest, hospitable” ( hospital ) + -tās -ty 2
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 rate of VAT - the tax paid when buying goods and services - is 20%, one of the highest rates for hospitality in Europe.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
Leisure and hospitality added 7,000, which while positive, is a bit of a weaker monthly gain than the U.S. has experienced in recent years.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
Sarwar added that he would reform the system so it is no longer "rigged" against hospitality to favour online giants.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
Tickets included in hospitality packages sold by On Location, the official hospitality provider of the LA28 Games, will not count toward the general limit.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026
We didn’t have enough time to thank her and tell her to thank her son for his hospitality.
From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah
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.
