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
That dampened employment gains in the broader public sector, which has been one of three key drivers (health care and leisure and hospitality being the others) of overall job growth with most of the credit going to strong gains in state and local governments.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
In terms of weak spots, retail trade as well as leisure and hospitality were the two groups to see job losses in February.
—Sean Conlon, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2025
Employment in leisure and hospitality as well as retail trade also fell a bit, perhaps reflecting the dampening effects on spending of declining consumer confidence.
—Harry Holzer, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Education and health services had some of the weakest job growth last month, while manufacturing, construction and leisure and hospitality showed strength, the data showed.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hospitality
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Alicia Wallace, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
In terms of weak spots, retail trade as well as leisure and hospitality were the two groups to see job losses in February.
—Sean Conlon, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2025
Employment in leisure and hospitality as well as retail trade also fell a bit, perhaps reflecting the dampening effects on spending of declining consumer confidence.
—Harry Holzer, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Education and health services had some of the weakest job growth last month, while manufacturing, construction and leisure and hospitality showed strength, the data showed.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 5 Mar. 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 12 Mar. 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
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