What does "hotel" mean?
A large town house or mansion; a grand private residence, especially in France.
Hotel
/həʊˈtɛl/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A large town house or mansion; a grand private residence, especially in France.
- Grammar: hotel is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: boardinghouse, chateau, dorm, dormitory.
- Useful contrasts: private villa, boardinghouse, boardinghouses.
- Usage evidence: The rooms in this hotel are really very bad at muffling sounds. I can hear my neighbor chewing his gum!
How to use "hotel"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "hotel" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "hotel" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "hotel" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "hotel" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "hotel" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "boardinghouse" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "hotel", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A large town house or mansion; a grand private residence, especially in France. historical
"[T]he cream-coloured house (supposed to be modelled on the private hotels of the Parisian aristocracy) was there[.]"
- 2 a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services wordnet
- 3 An establishment that provides accommodation and other services for paying guests; normally larger than a guesthouse, and often one of a chain.
"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 […] ."
- 4 A public house or pub. Australia, Canada, Western
- 5 A restaurant; any dining establishment. South-Asia
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 Alternative letter-case form of Hotel from the NATO/ICAO Phonetic Alphabet. alt-of
- 7 The larger red property in the game of Monopoly, in contradistinction to houses.
- 8 The guest accommodation and dining section of a cruise ship.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The rooms in this hotel are really very bad at muffling sounds. I can hear my neighbor chewing his gum!"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "hotel"?
Common synonyms include: boardinghouse, chateau, dorm, dormitory, doss house, fleabag.
How do you use "hotel" in a sentence?
The rooms in this hotel are really very bad at muffling sounds. I can hear my neighbor chewing his gum!
How do you pronounce "hotel"?
Pronounced /həʊˈtɛl/.
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.