hospice

noun

hos·​pice ˈhä-spəs How to pronounce hospice (audio)
Synonyms of hospicenext
1
: a lodging for travelers, young persons, or the underprivileged especially when maintained by a religious order
2
: a program designed to provide palliative care and emotional support to the terminally ill in a home or homelike setting so that quality of life is maintained and family members may be active participants in care
also : a facility that provides such a program

Synonyms of hospice

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Examples of hospice in a Sentence

She chose to go to a hospice instead of a hospital. the monks run a hospice for travelers in their mountain retreat
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Golding wishes more people would enroll in hospice as soon as they’re diagnosed with a terminal illness. — Michael Collins, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 In July, the hospice workers staged a one-day strike for similar reasons outside Allina Health's headquarters in Minneapolis. — Nicholas Lentz, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 The Ericksons could have opted to take the baby home with hospice care, keeping him pain-free until an inevitable end. — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 In March, Shirley posted a video claiming hospice care centers in San Diego were responsible for over $172 billion in fraud. — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hospice

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French hospise, borrowed from Medieval Latin hospitium "hospitality, lodgings, monastic guesthouse, shelter maintained by a religious order for the poor and infirm," going back to Latin,"accommodation of guests, hired lodgings," from hospit-, hospes "guest, host" + -ium, denominal suffix of function or occupation — more at host entry 1

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hospice was in 1818

Browse Nearby Words

hosp
hospice
hospitable
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Cite this Entry

“Hospice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hospice. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hospice

noun
hos·​pice ˈhäs-pəs How to pronounce hospice (audio)
1
: an inn for travelers
especially : one kept by a religious order
2
: a place or program for caring for dying persons

Medical Definition

hospice

noun
hos·​pice ˈhäs-pəs How to pronounce hospice (audio)
: a facility or program designed to provide palliative care and emotional support to the terminally ill in a home or homelike setting so that quality of life is maintained and family members may be active participants in care

More from Merriam-Webster on hospice

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hospice

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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