Meanings
nounhostelry (countable and uncountable, plural hostelries)
plural hostelries · alternative archaic hostelrie
- countableAn inn that provides overnight accommodation for travellers (and, originally, their horses).
- uncountableThe art and skill of guest management at a commercial facility such as a hotel, inn, motel, bed and breakfast, or hostel.
the hostelry trade
1 more example
a degree in hostelry and tourism
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Old Frenchhostelerie
- Middle Frenchhostellerie
- Middle Englishhostelerie
- Englishhostelry
From Middle English hostelerie, from Middle French hostellerie, from Old French hostelerie, ostelerie; by surface analysis, hostel + -ry.
More words from Middle English, Middle French, Old French
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
hostelry. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hostelry
MLA
“hostelry.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hostelry. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hostelry,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hostelry.
Source: hostelry on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.