motel

noun

mo·​tel mō-ˈtel How to pronounce motel (audio)
: an establishment which provides lodging and parking and in which the rooms are usually accessible from an outdoor parking area

Examples of motel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel Photo: Courtesy of Tribeca Festival How did a 1970s British soccer star disappear without a trace at the peak of his career and, years later, end up managing a down-at-the-heels West Hollywood motel in obscurity? Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 13 June 2025 The motel as well as several area businesses were evacuated as police established a perimeter around the area. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025 Hernandez, who was 37, died on the floor of the south Fort Worth motel. Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 June 2025 After speaking with Whitney, police checked the hotels and motels in Wenatchee as well as the camping roster at the state park, and then the wider area. Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for motel

Word History

Etymology

blend of motor and hotel

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of motel was in 1925

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Motel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motel. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

motel

noun
mo·​tel mō-ˈtel How to pronounce motel (audio)
: a building or group of buildings which provide lodgings and in which the rooms are usually reached directly from an outdoor parking lot

More from Merriam-Webster on motel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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