- a woman who entertains guests either at home or elsewhere; sometimes, the wife of a host
- a woman innkeeper or the wife of an innkeeper
- a woman whose work is seeing that guests or travelers are comfortable, as in a lodge
- a woman employed in a restaurant to supervise serving, often in charge of reservations and of seating patrons
- a woman who serves as a paid partner at a public dance hall
Origin of hostess
Middle English from Old French hostesse, feminine of hoste, host to act as hostess (for)
