hostess
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a woman who receives and entertains guests in her own home.
a female person who receives or entertains guests in a social capacity.
Simple“Our hostess made sure everyone had a drink and felt welcome at the party.”
In context“The hostess circulated through the room with practiced ease, ensuring that even the most reserved guests were introduced to one another.”
UsageWhile 'hostess' is common, many modern speakers use the gender-neutral 'host' for everyone.
Teacher's tipIn modern English, 'host' is increasingly used for all genders, but 'hostess' remains standard in many social and professional contexts.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
a person at a restaurant who greets you and takes you to your table.
a staff member in a restaurant responsible for greeting customers and managing table assignments.
Simple“The hostess asked if we had a reservation before leading us to a booth.”
In context“The restaurant hostess managed the long waiting list efficiently, providing accurate wait times to the arriving patrons.”
UsageOften used specifically for the person stationed at the entrance of a dining establishment.
Synonymsmaître d' - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a woman who looks after passengers on an airplane.
a female flight attendant; historically common but now largely replaced by gender-neutral terminology.
Simple“In the old days, the air hostess would serve meals on real china plates.”
In context“The term 'air hostess' has been largely phased out of professional aviation manuals in favor of the gender-neutral 'flight attendant'.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is considered dated. Advise students to use 'flight attendant' in professional or modern contexts.
Synonymsflight attendantstewardess - 04 C1 Advanced
a woman paid to talk to and entertain customers at a bar or club.
a woman employed to provide companionship, conversation, and entertainment to male patrons in a bar or nightclub.
Simple“The club employed several hostesses to encourage customers to buy more expensive drinks.”
In context“In certain urban districts, the role of the bar hostess is a strictly regulated profession centered on hospitality and social interaction.”
Teacher's tipBe aware that in some cultures, this term can imply sex work, though in others it refers strictly to social companionship.
Synonymsbargirl
From Middle English hostesse, from Middle French hostesse, from Old French ostesce, made up of oste (“host”) + -esce (“feminine marker”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.