hospital
hospital
Pronunciation
hospital /hɒspɪtl̩/
hos- /hɒs/
/h/ - voiceless glottal fricative
/ɒ/ - open-mid back rounded vowel
/s/ - voiceless alveolar sibilant
pi- /pɪ/
/p/ - voiceless bilabial plosive
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
tal /tl̩/ (or sometimes /təl/ or /təl/)
/t/ - voiceless alveolar plosive
/l̩/ - syllabic lateral approximant (or /əl/ - schwa followed by lateral approximant)
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: hospital
Plural Noun: hospitals
Adjective (related to hospitals): hospital (e.g., "hospital food," "hospital ward")
Adjective (hospital-related, derived from the noun): hospital-grade, hospital-bound
Adverb (rare, but possible in specific contexts): hospitally (e.g., "The building was designed hospitally.") - Note: This is very uncommon in general usage.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
hospital
An institution providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for sick or injured people.
Synonyms: clinic, infirmary, medical center, healthcare facility, sanatorium (archaic or specific context)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a type of place. One could consider "home" or "private residence" in the context of not being in a hospital for care.)
A specialized facility for the care and welfare of animals, particularly domestic pets, providing veterinary services.
Synonyms: veterinary clinic, animal hospital, vet's office
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific usage.)
Examples of Use
Books:
"He spent two weeks in the hospital recovering from the accident, his days a blur of beeping machines and hushed footsteps." (Fictional novel, author uncredited)
"The historical records indicated that the first public hospital in the city was established in 1789, primarily to serve the indigent population." (Non-fiction historical text, author uncredited)
Newspapers:
"Local hospital experiences surge in emergency room visits following flu outbreak." (Headline from The Daily Standard, 2025)
"The County Commissioners approved a new budget allocation for the expansion of the pediatric wing at St. Jude's Hospital." (Article in The Metropolitan Post, 2025)
Online Publications:
"Five ways technology is revolutionizing patient care in modern hospitals." (Article on MedTech Insights, 2025)
"Doctors at a London hospital successfully performed a groundbreaking neurosurgery using robotic assistance." (News report on BBC.com, 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series (Drama): "You need to get him to a hospital, now! He's losing too much blood." (Dialogue from Grey's Anatomy, Season 18, Episode 5)
Film (Action/Thriller): (Scene depicting a chaotic emergency room) "The entire city's hospitals are overwhelmed; we're running out of beds." (Line spoken by a character in Contagion, 2011)
Video Game (Simulation): (On-screen prompt) "Your patient's condition is critical. Transfer to the Intensive Care Unit within the hospital." (Instruction in Two Point Hospital, 2018)
Podcast (True Crime): "After the incident, she was rushed to the nearest hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery." (Narration from My Favorite Murder, Episode 345)
Social Media (X/Twitter): "So grateful to the incredible nurses at our local hospital for their tireless work! #HealthcareHeroes" (@CommunityCare, June 1, 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"My aunt is still in the hospital recovering from her surgery, but she's making good progress." (Casual conversation between friends)
"The traffic around the hospital this morning was absolutely dreadful; it took me an extra 20 minutes to get to work." (Everyday conversation among commuters)
"They're building a new hospital wing near the university, which should significantly increase the region's healthcare capacity." (Discussion at a community meeting)
10 Famous Quotes Using Hospital
"The first duty of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicine." (Often misattributed, but encapsulates a preventive approach to hospital visits) (Paracelsus, though the exact wording is debated)
"A hospital is no place to be sick." (Samuel Goldwyn, American film producer)
"The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." (Often attributed to Voltaire, suggesting a complementary role to the hospital)
"In a hospital, the only clock that matters is the one on the wall in the waiting room." (Unattributed, but commonly heard in general discourse)
"A man's got to do what a man's got to do. A woman must do what he can't." (Often used in a broad sense, but can apply to the demanding work within a hospital) (Unattributed common saying)
"Home is where the heart is, but a hospital is where the healing is." (Original quote)
"You don't need a hospital to die." (From the movie The Green Mile, 1999)
"The hospital is a place of hope and healing, but also of raw human emotion." (Original quote)
"He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything." (Arabic Proverb, highlighting the value of health which a hospital aims to restore)
"The hospital is a silent testament to the resilience of the human spirit." (Original quote)
Etymology
The word "hospital" has a really interesting journey through time! It actually comes from a root word that's all about guests and hospitality.
Here's the breakdown:
The Deep Root: It all starts with the Latin word "hospes," which had a double meaning: it could mean both "a guest or visitor" and "one who provides lodging or entertainment for a guest or visitor." Think of it like "host" and "guest" rolled into one.
From Guest to Guest House: From "hospes," the Latin word "hospitalis" emerged, meaning "of a guest" or "hospitable." This then turned into a noun, "hospitale," which referred to a "guest-house" or "inn" – basically, a place for travelers to find lodging.
Into French: This Latin "hospitale" made its way into Old French as "ospital" (later "hôpital" in modern French). At this stage, it still broadly meant a hostel, shelter, or lodging.
Entering English (with a Twist): The word "hospital" entered English around the 14th century from this Old French "hospital."
First Known Use and Meaning: When "hospital" first appeared in English, its primary meaning wasn't what we think of today. It referred to a "shelter for the needy" or a "house or hostel for the reception and entertainment of pilgrims, travelers, and strangers." So, imagine a place where weary travelers could rest and find basic care, often run by religious orders. It was a place of hospitality for those who were vulnerable or away from home.
The Shift to Medical Care: Over time, the meaning started to evolve. By the early 15th century, "hospital" began to refer to a "charitable institution to house and maintain the needy" in a broader sense. Then, crucially, by the 1540s, the meaning shifted to specifically include "an institution for sick or wounded people."
So, the word "hospital" essentially traveled from a Latin root about guests and hosts, through French, and then into English, gradually narrowing its meaning from a general place of shelter and hospitality to the dedicated medical institutions we know today. It's cool to think that even now, the core idea of "hospitality" – caring for those in need – remains at the heart of what a hospital does.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Hospital
Common Phrases:
Go to the hospital: To seek medical treatment at a hospital.
Be in the hospital: To be admitted as a patient in a hospital.
Discharged from the hospital: To be officially released from a hospital after treatment.
Hospital stay: The period of time a patient spends in a hospital.
Hospital visit: An instance of visiting someone who is in the hospital.
Hospital bed: A specialized bed used in hospitals for patients.
Field hospital: A temporary hospital set up in a combat zone or disaster area.
Lesser-Known / Original Phrases & Idioms with Synonyms:
Hospital corners: A specific, neat way of folding sheets on a bed, often taught in nursing.
A clean bill of health (from the clinic/hospital): To be declared healthy after a medical examination. (Using synonym "clinic")
The white coat syndrome: An idiom describing a patient's elevated blood pressure in a medical setting, like a hospital, due to anxiety.
On the mend (from the infirmary): Recovering from an illness or injury, often after a period of care in a medical facility. (Using synonym "infirmary")
Running a tight ship (like a well-organized hospital): Managing an organization or situation very efficiently and effectively.
Hospital-bound: Confined to or destined for a hospital due to illness or injury.
Straight from the hospital: Implies a very recent and direct departure from hospital care, often suggesting fragility or ongoing recovery.
To clear the hospital decks: To prepare a hospital for a large influx of patients, often in an emergency.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of hospital from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
