an institution for the medical, surgical, obstetric, or psychiatric care and treatment of patients - (modifier)
having the function of a hospital: a hospital ship a repair shop for something specified: a dolls' hospital a charitable home, hospice, or school
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
hos•pi•tal
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Medicinean institution in which the sick or injured are given medical and surgical treatment.
- In British English, the word hospital can appear as a noncount noun, without the article a or the before it, in certain phrases: (British English):He's in hospital.= (American English):He's in a hospital or He's in the hospital.
hos•pi•tal
(hos′pi tl),USA pronunciation n.
- Medicinean institution in which sick or injured persons are given medical or surgical treatment.
- Medicinea similar establishment for the care of animals.
- a repair shop for specific portable objects:violin hospital; doll hospital.
- British Termsan institution supported by charity or taxes for the care of the needy, as an orphanage or old people's home.
- Medieval Latin, noun, nominal use of neuter of Latin hospitālis hospitable, equivalent. to hospit- (see hospitium) + -ālis -al1
- Middle English hospitale 1250–1300
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