hotel

1 of 2

noun

ho·​tel hō-ˈtel How to pronounce hotel (audio)
ˈhō-ˌtel
: an establishment that provides lodging and usually meals, entertainment, and various personal services for the public : inn
hoteldom
hō-ˈtel-dəm How to pronounce hotel (audio)
ˈhō-ˌtel-
noun

Hotel

2 of 2

communications code word

used as a code word for the letter h

Examples of hotel in a Sentence

Noun check out of a hotel for their 50th anniversary they stayed at one of the finest hotels in San Francisco
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.
Noun
On a sticky hot morning in July, Ed Pierson steps into the lobby of a hotel in Washington, DC, completely unwilling to obey the plane-crash life cycle. Lauren Smiley, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2025 Travel to Europe is convenient from the major airports, and cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia offer world-class entertainment, restaurants, and hotels. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025 With innovative design, thoughtful touches, and world-class service, these recent openings top our list of the best new hotels of 2025. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025 Some have suggested a market or food hall on the main level, a hotel on the top floors and a river-side balcony where people could eat and sip while gazing at the Mississippi. Nick Halter, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hotel

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French hôtel, going back to Old French hostel, ostel "lodging, accommodation" — more at hostel entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1687, in the meaning defined above

Communications Code Word

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hotel was in 1687

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hotel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hotel. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

hotel

noun
ho·​tel hō-ˈtel How to pronounce hotel (audio)
: an establishment that provides lodging and often meals, entertainment, and personal services for its guests
Etymology

Noun

from French hôtel "hotel," from early French hostel "a place for travelers to spend the night," derived from Latin hospitalis "of a guest, showing hospitality," from hospit-, hospes "host, stranger, guest" — related to hospital, hospitality

More from Merriam-Webster on hotel

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