hostess
gb/hˈoʊstəs/ us/hˈoʊstəs/
A2
English
~ 6000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
woman who greets restaurant guests
A woman who works at a restaurant and says hello to guests, takes their names, and shows them where to sit.
Usage pattern:
a hostess at [a restaurant/venue]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "hostess" with "waitress". A hostess usually greets guests and manages seating but does not normally take food orders or bring meals to the table. Also, in modern English, many places use the gender‑neutral word "host" for this job, even when the worker is a woman.
Synonyms
host (Gender-neutral term; can refer to any person doing this job, not only a woman.)
|
greeter (Focuses on welcoming customers, and may be used in stores as well as restaurants.)
|
receptionist (Typically works at a front desk and may answer phones; not limited to restaurants.)
Antonyms
guest (Describes the person being welcomed and seated, the opposite social role of the hostess.)
Collocations
restaurant hostess
|hostess stand
|hostess station
|head hostess
|front-of-house hostess
|hostess greets guests
Themes
work
|food
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- The hostess checked our reservation and led us to a table by the window.
- Please see the hostess at the front if you don’t have a booking.
- The restaurant hired an extra hostess to handle the busy weekend crowd.
- When we arrived, the hostess gave us a pager and asked us to wait at the bar.
- Ask the hostess if they have any outdoor seating available.
Learner examples
- The hostess meets people at the door of the restaurant.
- We tell the hostess our name and then we wait.
- A friendly hostess makes guests feel welcome.
- The hostess shows us to our table.
- My sister works as a hostess on Friday nights.
unknown
A2
entity
2
woman hosting guests or a party
A woman who invites people to her home or party and takes care of them there.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a wonderful hostess
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "hostess" to describe any friendly woman at a party. It should only describe the woman responsible for the event, not just any woman who is there. Also, in modern English many people prefer the gender‑neutral word "host" instead of "hostess".
Synonyms
host (Gender‑neutral; can refer to a man or woman who receives guests.)
|
entertainer (Focuses more on amusing or performing for guests, not just caring for them at an event.)
Antonyms
guest (A person who is invited to an event, the opposite role of the person hosting it.)
Collocations
gracious hostess
|perfect hostess
|hostess of the party
|party hostess
|hostess for the evening
|elegant hostess
Themes
social
|daily life
|relationships
|daily_life
Examples
- She was a generous hostess and made sure everyone had enough to eat.
- As the hostess, she greeted each guest at the door with a smile.
- The hostess introduced her guests to one another to help start conversations.
- Our hostess showed us around the house before dinner.
- He thanked the hostess for a lovely evening.
Learner examples
- The hostess welcomes us into her home.
- Our hostess cooks dinner for all the guests.
- She is a very kind hostess at her parties.
- We gave the hostess a small gift.
- The hostess talks to every guest at the table.
Noun
B2
entity
3
woman presenting a show or event
A woman who leads a TV show, radio show, or event and talks to the audience or guests.
Usage pattern:
the hostess of [a show/event]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "hostess" is the normal word for a woman on TV, but in modern English people usually say "host" for both men and women. "Hostess" can sound old‑fashioned or overly focused on gender in this context.
Synonyms
presenter (Common especially in British English for TV and radio; gender‑neutral.)
|
host (Very common gender‑neutral term for someone who leads a show or event.)
|
emcee (Informal term (MC) mainly for live events, not usually for regular TV or radio shows.)
Antonyms
viewer (A person who watches the show, the opposite role of the person presenting it.)
Collocations
television hostess
|game show hostess
|talk-show hostess
|awards-show hostess
|TV hostess
|hostess of the ceremony
Themes
media
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
|communication
|work
Examples
- The hostess welcomed the studio audience and introduced the first guest.
- She worked as the main hostess of a popular morning talk show.
- The awards-show hostess kept the crowd laughing between speeches.
- A new hostess will take over the cooking show next season.
- The hostess guided viewers through the highlights of the tournament.
Learner examples
- The hostess asks the guest questions on the TV show.
- Our favorite game show has a very funny hostess.
- The hostess stands on the stage and talks to the audience.
- She wants to be a TV hostess when she grows up.
- The hostess explains the rules of the game.
Noun
C1
entity
4
woman paid to entertain bar or club patrons
A woman who works in a bar or club and is paid to talk with customers and keep them company, especially so they buy more drinks.
Usage pattern:
a hostess at [a bar/club]
Common mistake:
Learners may assume this use of "hostess" is the same as a normal party hostess or restaurant hostess. In this meaning, it is a specific paid job in bars or clubs, sometimes with a slightly seedy or adult nightlife image depending on the culture.
Synonyms
bar girl (Often used in travel writing; can carry a negative or seedy connotation.)
|
escort (In some contexts suggests sexual services, which may be stronger than what "hostess" implies.)
Antonyms
customer (The paying person who is entertained by the hostess, the opposite side of the interaction.)
Collocations
nightclub hostess
|bar hostess
|hostess club
|karaoke hostess
|lounge hostess
|employ hostesses
Themes
work
|nightlife
|business
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- He spent most of the night talking with a hostess at the club.
- The bar employs several hostesses to sit with regular customers.
- In some hostess clubs, customers buy expensive drinks for the hostess who keeps them company.
- She worked as a nightclub hostess while studying at university.
- Tourists are often surprised by how much the bill can rise when they drink with a hostess.
Learner examples
- The hostess sits with the man and talks to him in the bar.
- Some clubs pay hostesses to pour drinks for customers.
- He meets a hostess at a small nightclub near the station.
- The hostess stays at the table so the customers buy more drinks.
- She does not serve food; she works as a hostess in a karaoke bar.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hostess
IPA
GB/hˈoʊstəs/
US/hˈoʊstəs/
Syllables & stress
host - ess (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (host)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: hostess
- Plural: hostesses
Word family
Forms
hostesses
noun
Core family
host
noun A2
Related words
hospitality
noun B1
hospitable
adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
guest
noun A1
inhospitable
adjective
Expressions
air hostess
1/ˈɛɹ hˈoʊstəs/
fixed phrase
female flight attendant
An older word, especially in British English, for a female flight attendant on a plane.
Examples
- She worked as an air hostess for an international airline in the 1990s.
- The air hostess asked passengers to fasten their seat belts before takeoff.
- Today many airlines use the gender‑neutral term "flight attendant" instead of "air hostess".
hostess gift
1/hˈoʊstəs ɡˈɪft/
fixed phrase
small gift for your hostess
A small present that you bring for the person who invites you to a dinner or party, to say thank you.
Examples
- It’s polite to bring a hostess gift, such as flowers or a bottle of wine, when you’re invited to dinner.
- She forgot to buy a hostess gift, so she stopped for chocolates on the way to the party.
- In some cultures, bringing a hostess gift is an important part of good manners.
hostess with the mostest
1/hˈoʊstəs wˈɪθ ðə mˈɑstɪst/
idiom
informal
woman who is an outstanding hostess
A joking, informal way to describe a woman who is very good at giving parties and taking care of guests.
Examples
- Everyone calls her the hostess with the mostest because her parties are always amazing.
- With all that food and decoration, you’re really the hostess with the mostest tonight.
- She prides herself on being the hostess with the mostest every holiday season.
nightclub hostess
1/nˈaɪtklˌʌb hˈoʊstəs/
fixed phrase
woman paid to entertain nightclub customers
A woman who works in a nightclub and is paid to talk with customers and keep them company, often so they buy more drinks.
Examples
- He met a nightclub hostess during his business trip overseas.
- Several nightclub hostesses were interviewed about working conditions in the city’s entertainment district.
- The ad said they were looking for experienced nightclub hostesses to work late hours.
party hostess
1/pˈɑɹti hˈoʊstəs/
fixed phrase
woman hosting a party
A woman who gives a party and takes care of the guests there.
Examples
- As the party hostess, she greeted everyone at the door with a drink.
- The party hostess made sure no guest was left alone.
- We thanked the party hostess before we went home.
restaurant hostess
1/ɹˈɛstɚˌɑnt hˈoʊstəs/
fixed phrase
woman greeting guests in a restaurant
A woman who works at a restaurant and greets guests, takes their names, and shows them to their seats.
Examples
- The restaurant hostess told us there would be a twenty‑minute wait.
- She started working as a restaurant hostess while she was in college.
- Please speak to the restaurant hostess at the front desk if you need a high chair.
wedding hostess
1/wˈɛdɪŋ hˈoʊstəs/
fixed phrase
woman who guides guests at a wedding
A woman who helps at a wedding by greeting guests, showing them where to sit, or answering their questions.
Examples
- The wedding hostess directed guests to sign the guest book before entering the hall.
- They hired a wedding hostess to help manage the reception.
- Ask the wedding hostess where you should sit during the ceremony.