hospitality
gb/hˌɔspətˈæləti/ us/hˌɔspətˈæləti/
B1
English
~ 6100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
action
1
friendly treatment of guests
the friendly way you welcome and take care of people who visit your home or place
Usage pattern:
[someone] shows hospitality to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'hospitality' with 'hospital' and use it to talk about medical care, which is incorrect. Another common mistake is using it as a countable noun (e.g., *'a hospitality'*); in this sense it is almost always uncountable. Learners may also try to use it as a verb (e.g., *'They hospitality us'*), but the correct form is to use verbs like 'host', 'welcome', 'show hospitality', or 'offer hospitality'.
Synonyms
friendliness (more general; not only about guests, while 'hospitality' is specifically about how you treat visitors.)
|
generosity (focuses more on giving and sharing things, while 'hospitality' includes the whole way you welcome and care for guests.)
Antonyms
hostility (suggests open unfriendliness or aggression toward others, the opposite attitude of welcoming guests kindly.)
|
unfriendliness (describes a cold or distant attitude, which contrasts with the warm and welcoming nature of hospitality.)
Collocations
warm hospitality
|show hospitality
|offer hospitality
|extend hospitality
|enjoy someone's hospitality
|thank [someone] for their hospitality
Themes
daily life
|social
|travel
|relationships
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We were touched by the family's hospitality during our stay in the village.
- Thank you for your hospitality; the dinner was wonderful.
- Their country is famous for its warm hospitality toward tourists.
- She prides herself on the hospitality she offers to every guest.
- After the conference, our hosts extended great hospitality by showing us around the city.
Learner examples
- Thank you for your hospitality this weekend.
- His parents showed me great hospitality.
- The people in that town are known for their hospitality.
- She enjoys offering hospitality to friends who visit.
Noun
B2
entity
2
hotel and restaurant business sector
the business area of hotels, restaurants, and other places that serve and care for guests and tourists
Usage pattern:
[someone] works in hospitality
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this industry meaning with the general personal quality of being welcoming. For example, *'I love your hospitality'* talks about someone's kindness to guests, not the business sector. Another mistake is adding an article in general statements, such as *'a hospitality industry is important'*. In most cases, use 'the hospitality industry' for the sector as a whole or just 'hospitality' when talking about it as a field of work.
Synonyms
service industry (broader; includes all service businesses, not only those focused on guests and tourism like 'hospitality'.)
|
tourism industry (focuses on travel and tourists; often overlaps with 'hospitality' but does not always include local restaurants and bars used mainly by residents.)
Antonyms
manufacturing (refers to making physical goods in factories, the opposite type of economic activity from serving guests in the hospitality industry.)
Collocations
hospitality industry
|hospitality sector
|hospitality management
|career in hospitality
|work in hospitality
|hospitality business
Themes
business
|travel
|work
|food_drink
Examples
- After graduation, she found a job in hospitality.
- The hospitality industry was badly affected by the pandemic.
- He is studying hospitality management at university.
- Our city relies heavily on tourism and hospitality.
- The company provides training programs for people starting a career in hospitality.
Learner examples
- My brother works in hospitality at a big hotel.
- Many students want a career in hospitality.
- The hospitality industry grows when more tourists visit.
- She is taking a course in hospitality management.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hospitality
IPA
GB/hˌɔspətˈæləti/
US/hˌɔspətˈæləti/
Syllables & stress
hos - pit - al - ity (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (al)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: hospitality
- Plural: hospitality
Word family
Core family
hospitable
adjective B2
hospitably
adverb
Related words
host
noun A2
Negative and opposite forms
inhospitable
adjective
inhospitably
adverb
Expressions
hospitality sector
1/hˌɔspətˈæləti sˈɛktɚ/
fixed phrase
economic area of hospitality businesses
the part of the economy that includes hotels, restaurants, bars, and similar guest services
Examples
- New tax rules will affect the hospitality sector most strongly.
- Government support helped the hospitality sector recover after the crisis.
hospitality suite
1/hˌɔspətˈæləti swˈit/
fixed phrase
formal
room used to entertain guests
a special room at a hotel, sports event, or conference where important guests are given food, drinks, and a place to relax
Examples
- Clients were invited to the hospitality suite after the conference sessions.
- Our company rented a hospitality suite at the stadium for key partners.
hospitality tent
1/hˌɔspətˈæləti tˈɛnt/
fixed phrase
tent for hosting guests at events
a special tent at an outdoor event where guests or important people can sit, eat, and drink
Examples
- Sponsors had access to a private hospitality tent near the finish line.
- Volunteers were asked to check wristbands at the entrance to the hospitality tent.
the hospitality industry
1/ðə hˌɔspətˈæləti ˈɪndəstɹi/
fixed phrase
all hotels and restaurants sector
all the hotels, restaurants, bars, and similar businesses in a place, seen as one business area
Examples
- The hospitality industry generates thousands of jobs in this region.
- Many small towns depend on the hospitality industry for income from tourists.