noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
hō-tĕl′
hō′tĕl
hō′təl
Received-Pronunciation:/həʊˈtɛl/
Received-Pronunciation:/əʊˈtɛl/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-US:/ˈhoʊ.tɛl/
Canada:/hoːˈtɛl/
India, North:/ˈhoː.ʈəl/
India, North:/hoːˈʈɛːl/
India, North:/hoːˈʈeːl/
India, South:/ˈ(h)oː.ʈəl/
rhymes with -ɛl
rhymes with -əʊtəl
CMU ARPABET:HH OW0 T EH1 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A large town house or mansion; a grand private residence, especially in France.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An establishment that provides accommodation and other services for paying guests; normally larger than a guesthouse, and often one of a chain.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
1868, "A Clergyman" (John Morison), Australia in 1866, page 165, When gold-digging commenced in California, the writer was staying at an hotel in Wellington, New Zealand, where a Yankee trader was also staying. Seated at the dining-table, the latter was discoursing of the business he was doing [...] .
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A public house or pub.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia, Canada, Western
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A restaurant; any dining establishment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: South-Asia
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
Alternative letter-case form of Hotel from the NATO/ICAO Phonetic Alphabet.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of
Qualifier: international standards
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
The larger red property in the game of Monopoly, in contradistinction to houses.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
The guest accommodation and dining section of a cruise ship.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: building, edifice
Narrower terms: fleabag, hostel, hostelry, inn, lodge, auberge, motor hotel, motor inn, motor lodge, tourist court, court, resort hotel, spa, Ritz, ski lodge, resort, holiday resort
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Italic *hostipotjālis Latin hospitālis Old French ostel Middle French hostel French hôtelbor. English hotel Borrowed from French hôtel, from Middle French hostel, from Old French ostel, from Late Latin hospitālis (“hospice, shelter, guesthouse”), from Latin hospitālis (“hospitable”). Doublet of hostel and hospital.
Across languages
Translations
202 source translations are retained for this English entry.