hospitality
hos-pih-TAL-ih-tee
Hospitality (noun) means Friendly, generous treatment of guests or visitors. Example: “The village is famous for the warm hospitality it shows to every traveller.”
noun
1
Friendly, generous treatment of guests or visitors.
"The village is famous for the warm hospitality it shows to every traveller."
"We were grateful for their hospitality during our stay."
"Thank you for your hospitality — the meal was wonderful."
2
The industry covering hotels, restaurants, and similar businesses.
"Many students find their first jobs in hospitality, working in cafes and hotels."
"The hospitality sector needs plenty of staff during the summer holidays."
"She has worked in hospitality for over a decade, mostly managing hotels."
How to use hospitality
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWarm treatment of guests, or the industry of hotels, restaurants, and events.
Common pairings
show hospitality
hospitality industry
corporate hospitality
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Word forms
- Plural
- hospitalities
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The village is famous for the warm _____ it shows to every traveller.
Etymology
From Latin hospitalitas, built from hospes, meaning both "host" and "guest."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
inhospitality
Related words
Rhymes for hospitality
See all rhymes for hospitality →Frequently asked questions
What does “hospitality” mean?
The word “hospitality” means friendly, generous treatment of guests or visitors. In plain terms, warm treatment of guests, or the industry of hotels, restaurants, and events.
How do you pronounce “hospitality”?
“Hospitality” is pronounced hos-pih-TAL-ih-tee (/ˌhɑ.spɪˈtæl.ə.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “hospitality” in a sentence?
Here is “hospitality” used in a sentence: “We were grateful for their hospitality during our stay.”
What part of speech is “hospitality”?
“Hospitality” is a noun.
Where does the word “hospitality” come from?
The word “hospitality” comes from Latin. From Latin hospitalitas, built from hospes, meaning both "host" and "guest.".
Is “hospitality” a common word?
“Hospitality” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “hospitality” have?
“Hospitality” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: friendly, generous treatment of guests or visitors.
What is the difference between hospitality and hostility?
Despite sounding similar, the two words are near opposites. Hospitality is the friendly, generous welcome you give to guests, while hostility is unfriendliness or open aggression toward someone.
What is the difference between hospitality and the hospitality industry?
In everyday use, hospitality means the warm, generous treatment of guests and visitors. As an industry term, "the hospitality industry" refers to the businesses that provide such services for a living, including hotels, restaurants, bars, and event venues.
What are common phrases using hospitality?
Hospitality often appears in phrases such as "show hospitality," "offer hospitality," "warm hospitality," and "Southern hospitality." In business settings it pairs with words like sector, industry, suite, and management.
Is hospitality a formal or informal word?
Hospitality is neutral and works in both everyday and formal contexts. It is common in casual speech ("thanks for your hospitality") and in professional or academic writing about the service and tourism sectors.
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