/ ˈhɒspɪtl; NAmE ˈhɑːs-/ noun
a large building where people who are ill / sick or injured are given medical treatment and care :
( BrE )
He had to go to hospital for treatment.
( NAmE )
He had to go to the hospital for treatment.
to be admitted to (the) hospital
to be discharged from (the) hospital
The injured were rushed to (the) hospital in an ambulance.
He died in (the) hospital.
I'm going to the hospital to visit my brother.
a psychiatric / mental hospital
hospital doctors / nurses / staff
There is an urgent need for more hospital beds.
—see also cottage hospital
••
BRITISH / AMERICAN
hospital
In BrE you say to hospital or in hospital when you talk about somebody being there as a patient:
I had to go to hospital.
•
She spent two weeks in hospital
.
In NAmE you need to use the :
I had to go to the hospital.
•
She spent two weeks in the hospital.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (originally meaning a hospice run by the Knights Hospitallers in the 11th century): via Old French from medieval Latin hospitale , neuter of Latin hospitalis hospitable, from hospes , hospit- host, guest.