hostess

American  

[hoh-stis] / ˈhoʊ stɪs /

noun

1. a woman who receives and entertains guests in her own home or elsewhere.

2. a woman employed in a restaurant or place of amusement to receive, seat, or assist patrons.

3. a woman who acts as master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for a television or radio program; host.

4. a woman employed by an airline, railroad, bus company, etc., to see that passengers are comfortable throughout a trip, usually receiving and seating them, and sometimes serving them refreshments.

5. a woman who manages a resort or hotel or who directs its social activities.

6. taxi dancer.

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verb (used with object)

1. to be the hostess at (a reception, dinner, etc.).

   She will hostess a shower for the new bride.

2. to act as hostess at, to, or for.

   She volunteered to hostess the garden club next season.

verb (used without object)

1. to perform the duties or functions of a hostess.

hostess British  

/ ˈhəʊstɪs /

noun

1. a woman acting as host

2. a woman who receives and entertains patrons of a club, restaurant, etc

3. See air hostess

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Gender

See -ess.

Other Word Forms

• hostess-ship noun

Etymology

Origin of hostess

1250–1300; Middle English ( h ) ostesse < Old French. See host ¹, -ess

Example Sentences

The sisters’ mutual antagonism has a few clever beats, like when they bicker over who had the superior working-class restaurant job, Grace waiting tables or Faith as a hostess.

From Los Angeles Times

I should bring them a nice hostess gift; I should behave so charmingly that they later compliment me to my parents.

From Literature

“If there is a bomb, a war, so what?” said Aisha Katushabe, a Ugandan hostess at a Japanese restaurant in Dubai’s City Walk area, showing off her bravado.

From The Wall Street Journal

Susan Nasser works as a hostess, welcoming shoppers at the luxury Bicester Village outlet shopping centre and helping them find their way around.

From BBC

Believing Leah was overcome by the spirits, her hostess took her out into the yard for some fresh air.

From Literature