Word
inhospitable
Phoneticsin·hos·pitable
US/ˌɪnhɑˈspɪtəbəɫ/
UK/ɪnhɒspˈɪtəbəl/
Definition
adj. not friendly or welcoming to visitors. It can also describe a place that is very difficult to live in because of the weather or environment.
adj. unfriendly or unwelcoming to guests; lacking the qualities of a hospitable environment. Often describes physical landscapes that are harsh or unsuitable for human habitation.
Examples
“The mountain air is very cold and inhospitable.”
“The desert is an inhospitable place for most plants because there is almost no water.”
“While the coastal town was once a bustling hub of trade, its inhospitable climate and frequent storms eventually drove the population inland to more temperate regions.”
Examples
simple
“The mountain air is very cold and inhospitable.”
contextual
“The desert is an inhospitable place for most plants because there is almost no water.”
complex
“While the coastal town was once a bustling hub of trade, its inhospitable climate and frequent storms eventually drove the population inland to more temperate regions.”
Real-World Examples
“This suggests that life of some kind could develop even on inhospitable planets.” “Poems could be written relatively quickly, with limited means, and even in inhospitable places (the shelter, the trench).” Etymology
From Middle French inhospitable, from Medieval Latin inhospitābilis. By surface analysis, in- + hospitable.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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