hospital
noun
hos·pi·tal
ˈhä-(ˌ)spi-tᵊl 
often attributive
1
: a charitable institution for the needy, aged, infirm, or young
2
: an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care
—usually used in British English without an article after a preposition
3
: a repair shop for specified small objects
a clock hospital
Examples of hospital in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
People who are obese, over 65, or have darker skin may be more at risk for deficiency—and about 50% to 60% of nursing home residents and patients in hospitals are vitamin D deficient.
—
Erica Sweeney, Time, 28 May 2025
The orchestra outreach includes education with public schools; performances in hospitals; and performing with Opera Carolina, Charlotte Ballet and Charlotte Master Chorale.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2025
William Oiler, 44, Harvey, was charged May 23 with leaving the scene of a personal-injury collision in connection with a May 22 head-on collision on Interstate 57 that sent an Illinois State Trooper to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, police said.
—Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Grass was taken to the hospital to be treated for a broken nose, among other injuries, police said.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2025
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Erica Sweeney, Time, 28 May 2025
The orchestra outreach includes education with public schools; performances in hospitals; and performing with Opera Carolina, Charlotte Ballet and Charlotte Master Chorale.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2025
William Oiler, 44, Harvey, was charged May 23 with leaving the scene of a personal-injury collision in connection with a May 22 head-on collision on Interstate 57 that sent an Illinois State Trooper to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, police said.
—Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Grass was taken to the hospital to be treated for a broken nose, among other injuries, police said.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hospital
Cite this Entry
“Hospital.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hospital. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hospital
noun
hos·pi·tal
ˈhäs-ˌpit-ᵊl
: an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care
Etymology
Middle English hospital "a stopping place for travelers, a place that cares for people too old, sick, or poor to care for themselves," from early French hospital (same meaning), derived from Latin hospitale "hospice, guest house," from hospitalis "of a guest," from hospit-, hospes "host, stranger, guest," from hostis "stranger, enemy" — related to hospitality, host entry 1, host entry 2, hostile, hotel
Medical Definition
hospital
noun
hos·pi·tal
ˈhäs-ˌpit-ᵊl
often attributive
1
: a charitable institution for the needy, aged, infirm, or young
2
a
: an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care
—when used in British English following a preposition, the article is usually omitted
came and saw me in hospital—Robert Graves
Robert Graves
b
: a place for the care and treatment of sick and injured animals
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