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

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

From BBC

Visiting a hostel for rough sleepers in south London, she met some of those who have recently been helped off the streets.

From BBC

The inquiry previously heard Mr Rowley and Ms Sturgess met in a supported living hostel in Salisbury, and he had moved to a flat in Amesbury two months before the poisoning.

From BBC

If their areas had more social homes, they could house these people instead of paying for them to stay in hotels and hostels.

From BBC

Those already in homeless accommodation, such as hostels, were moved into the private rented sector - allowing others to come off the streets.

From BBC

Related Words

• hotel
• inn