noun
hostel
HAHS-tul/ˈhɑːstl/
An inexpensive place for travelers to stay, usually in shared rooms.
We stay at a hostel to save money while traveling.
Etymology
Latin hospitale meant a guest-house or inn. The modern hostel continues that lodging function, narrowed here to inexpensive accommodation where travelers share rooms.
In context
on the outskirts of town, calling the hostel to check availability. It turned out it was fully booked. A stroke of luck saw us staying in a cabin
More examples
- This hostel has six bunk beds in each shared room.
- Some hostels offer private rooms as well as shared ones.
- Travelers cook dinner together in the hostel's shared kitchen.
Forms
hostel · hostels
Similar words
- hotel
- Usually offers private rooms rather than shared sleeping quarters.
- guesthouse
- Usually a small lodging business with mostly private rooms.