# inn

/ˈɪn/ (US) · /ˈɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inn
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a small hotel or pub

noun · CEFR B1

a small hotel, often an old building in the countryside, where you can eat and sleep.

For teachers: a commercial establishment providing accommodation and meals, typically smaller and more traditional than a modern hotel.

- After driving for hours through the rain, we finally found a cozy inn with a warm fire.
- The weary travellers sought refuge at a sixteenth-century coaching inn, where the low ceilings and stone floors spoke of centuries of hospitality.

### 2. legal society

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

one of the four professional groups in London that lawyers (barristers) belong to.

For teachers: one of the four legal societies in London (Inns of Court) that have the exclusive right to call students to the bar.

- He spent many years studying at one of the famous legal inns in London.
- Membership in an Inn of Court is a prerequisite for any individual wishing to practice as a barrister in England and Wales.

## Examples

- We stayed at a quiet country inn during our hiking trip.
- The weary travellers stopped at a roadside inn to find a warm meal and a bed for the night.
- While modern hotel chains offer standardized comfort, many tourists prefer the unique character and historical architecture of a traditional village inn.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.