Definition of Hospital
Quick Meaning of Hospital
A place where doctors treat sick or hurt people and sometimes patients stay overnight for care.
Detailed Definition of Hospital
A building where sick or injured people receive medical treatment from doctors and nurses.
How to Pronounce Hospital
Stress pattern: Ooo (3-syllable word).
Tip: Stress on the first syllable: HAH-spi-tal. The 'h' is silent in casual speech for some speakers, but pronouncing it is more standard.
Watch out: Learners sometimes say 'hos-PI-tal' with stress on the second syllable; correct stress is on the first: HAH-spi-tal.
Origin and Etymology of Hospital
From Latin 'hospitale' (hospitable place), derived from 'hospes' meaning guest or host.
How to Use Hospital in a Sentence
Each example shows “hospital” with a CEFR level so learners can pick examples that match their fluency.
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“My grandmother went to the hospital when she broke her leg.”
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“The patient spent three weeks in the hospital after surgery.”
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“Hospitals employ doctors, nurses, and many other medical professionals.”
Synonyms and Antonyms of Hospital
Common Synonyms for Hospital
Smart Synonyms for Hospital — When to Use Each
- clinic
- Used for smaller facilities that treat outpatients without
- infirmary
- An older or more formal term, often used
Common Collocations with Hospital
These phrases pair with “hospital” in everyday English:
- go to hospital
- in the hospital
- hospital bed
- hospital staff
- children's hospital
Common Mistakes When Using Hospital
Even fluent speakers slip up with “hospital”. Here’s how to avoid the most common errors:
- ✗ Wrong: She is in hospital now and she get better.
- ✓ Correct: She is in hospital now and she is getting better.
- Why: After present continuous 'is', use the gerund form 'getting', not the base form 'get'.
- ✗ Wrong: The hospital are very big.
- ✓ Correct: The hospital is very big.
- Why: Hospital is a singular noun, so use 'is', not 'are'.
Other Forms of Hospital
- Noun: hospital
- Adjective: hospitalized
Frequently Asked Questions About Hospital
What is the meaning of "Hospital"?
A place where doctors treat sick or hurt people and sometimes patients stay overnight for care.
How do you pronounce "Hospital"?
The IPA is /ˈhɑːspɪtəl/. Stress on the first syllable: HAH-spi-tal. The 'h' is silent in casual speech for some speakers, but pronouncing it is more standard.
What part of speech is "Hospital"?
"Hospital" is a noun at A1 level (Common European Framework).
What are synonyms for "Hospital"?
Common synonyms include clinic, infirmary, medical center.
How do you use "Hospital" in a sentence?
For example: "My grandmother went to the hospital when she broke her leg."