hostess
B2neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A woman who receives and entertains guests.
A female host; also, a woman employed to welcome and assist patrons in a restaurant, on an airplane, or in other service contexts; more rarely, a woman who introduces and manages participants in a television or radio show.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word often carries connotations of hospitality, welcoming, and social or professional service. Its use is sometimes seen as outdated in certain professional contexts where gender-neutral terms like 'host', 'server', or 'flight attendant' are preferred.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is broadly similar. In the airline industry, 'cabin crew' or 'flight attendant' is now standard in both, making 'air hostess' dated. In hospitality/restaurants, 'hostess' remains slightly more common in American English for the greeter role.
Connotations
Can sometimes carry slightly old-fashioned or gendered connotations in both varieties, especially outside of specific hospitality job titles.
Frequency
More frequent in American English for the restaurant role. In British English, 'host' is increasingly used for all genders in many contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
hostess of [event/party/show]hostess at [venue/restaurant]hostess for [occasion/airline]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hostess with the mostest”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a woman greeting clients or managing event hospitality.
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or sociological texts discussing gender roles.
Everyday
Common for a woman throwing a party or the person who seats you in a restaurant.
Technical
In aviation/hospitality, it is a dated job title; modern technical terms are 'flight attendant' or 'front-of-house staff'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The hostess showed us to our table.
- She is a good hostess for her family party.
- My aunt will be the hostess of the wedding reception.
- The airline is no longer recruiting air hostesses; they hire flight attendants.
- As the hostess of the charity gala, her primary duty was to ensure all guests felt welcome.
- The role of the television hostess has evolved significantly over the decades.
- Her reputation as an impeccable hostess was built on an almost telepathic anticipation of her guests' needs.
- The term 'hostess' has been largely phased out in corporate aviation in favour of gender-neutral terminology.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HOSTess: think of a HOST who is a woman (the '-ess' suffix often indicates feminine, like 'actress').
Conceptual Metaphor
HOSPITALITY IS WELCOMING (the hostess embodies the act of welcoming and providing).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'хозяйка' when it simply means 'housewife' or 'female owner of a house'. 'Hostess' implies an active role in welcoming guests. The Russian 'стюардесса' is the dated equivalent of 'air hostess/stewardess', not the general term.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hostess' for a male host (use 'host').
- Using 'hostess' as a verb (the verb is 'to host').
- Misspelling as 'hostes' or 'hostesss'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'hostess' considered most outdated today?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'hostess' specifically refers to a woman. For a man or when gender is unspecified, the term 'host' is used.
It can be perceived as outdated and potentially demeaning, as it emphasises a gendered hospitality role rather than a safety-focused profession. 'Flight attendant' or 'cabin crew' is preferred.
Functionally, none. The difference is gendered language. Many restaurants now use the gender-neutral title 'host' or 'greeter' for all employees in that role.
No. The verb form is 'to host' regardless of gender (e.g., 'She will host the party'). 'Hostess' is only a noun.