hospitality
noun
hos·pi·tal·i·ty
ˌhä-spə-ˈta-lə-tē 
plural hospitalities
1
: hospitable treatment, reception, or disposition
thanked our hosts for their hospitality
2
: the activity or business of providing services to guests in hotels, restaurants, bars, etc.
—usually used before another noun
a hospitality suite
Valet parking may be the most commonplace, least understood corner of the hospitality industry.—
Bruce Feiler
Bruce Feiler… has turned the hospitality business upside down with his far-out hotel designs …—Robert Herzbrun
Robert HerzbrunExamples of hospitality in a Sentence
It was refreshing to be met with such hospitality after our long journey.
Recent Examples on the Web
Down in Mississippi, Area 51 Ice Cream in Hernando offers inventive, small-batch flavors like Blueberry Cobbler and Blackberry Goat Cheese—all served with a side of small-town hospitality.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 1 June 2025
The following two books here are not about cooking or food per se, but sit happily in the world of hospitality.
—Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Sisco, a salesperson for a welding company, and Harkness, who worked in the hospitality industry, were both previously married and now divorced.
—Ruth Chenetz, CBS News, 31 May 2025
Enjoy fun activities with kids, sports events, fun outings and anything to do with the arts and the hospitality industry.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hospitality
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 1 June 2025
The following two books here are not about cooking or food per se, but sit happily in the world of hospitality.
—Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Sisco, a salesperson for a welding company, and Harkness, who worked in the hospitality industry, were both previously married and now divorced.
—Ruth Chenetz, CBS News, 31 May 2025
Enjoy fun activities with kids, sports events, fun outings and anything to do with the arts and the hospitality industry.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hospitality
Cite this Entry
“Hospitality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hospitality. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hospitality
noun
hos·pi·tal·i·ty
ˌhäs-pə-ˈtal-ət-ē
plural hospitalities
: generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests
Etymology
Middle English hospitalite "hospitality," from early French hospitalité (same meaning), derived from Latin hospitale "of a guest, showing hospitality," from hospit-, hospes "host, stranger, guest" — related to hospital, host entry 2, hotel
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share