Pronunciation

/ˈhəʊstəs/

Definitions

Noun (n)

• A woman who receives guests or customers, especially in a restaurant, hotel, or on an airplane: “The hostess greeted us with a smile as we entered the restaurant.”
• The female head of a household who entertains guests: “At the dinner party, the hostess ensured everyone was comfortable and well-fed.”
• A woman who organizes and hosts social events: “She’s an excellent hostess; her parties are always talked about for weeks.”

Verb (v)

• (rarely used) To act as a hostess, that is, to entertain or receive guests: “She was chosen to hostess the charity gala event.”

Phrases

• “Hostess with the mostest” - a colloquial expression referring to a particularly adept or charming female host.
• “Airline hostess” - now often called a flight attendant, this term refers to a female staff member who attends to passengers’ needs during flights.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “As a professional hostess, she made sure every guest felt welcome and attended to.”
• “The cruise ship had a team of attentive hostesses ready to assist passengers around the clock.”

Synonyms

• Host (when referring to a female)
• Hosteler
• Greeter
• Receptionist (in certain contexts such as hospitality)
• Server (specifically in restaurants or cafes)

Antonyms might include ‘guest’ or ‘visitor’ depending on the context but note that these don’t directly oppose the role of a hostess.