Host vs. Hostess — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 5, 2023
A host is a person who entertains guests, while a hostess is a female who does the same.
Difference Between Host and Hostess
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The term "host" primarily refers to an individual who invites and takes care of guests, ensuring their comfort and managing the proceedings of an event. A host could be encountered in various scenarios including social gatherings, events, and hospitality industries, embodying a role of leadership and management in social contexts.
"Hostess" refers specifically to a female who undertakes the role of welcoming and taking care of guests. A hostess, similar to a host, is responsible for the well-being and comfort of guests, orchestrating the smooth running of social events, dining experiences, or parties, but conveys gender through the term.
Both "host" and "hostess" are vested with the responsibility of ensuring that guests are comfortable, entertained, and well-taken-care-of. While "host" can be gender-neutral, "hostess" is gender-specific, and this distinction primarily lies in traditional linguistic norms that specify gender roles.
In many contemporary contexts, "host" is increasingly being used in a gender-neutral manner, encapsulating individuals of all genders in the role of managing and catering to guests. This shift aligns with a wider move towards gender-neutral language in English.
Despite the progressive move towards gender-neutral terms, "hostess" still finds its place in specific contexts, maintaining a traditional delineation of roles. Although the specific tasks of a host and hostess might align, the use of gendered terms may persist in certain cultural or social scenarios.
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Comparison Chart
Gender
Can be gender-neutral.
Specifically female.
Usage
Used widely across various contexts.
Used in gendered contexts, less universal.
Etymology
Derived from the Old French “hoste”.
Derived from the “host” with a feminine suffix.
Modern Context
Adopted in gender-neutral modern usage.
May imply traditional gender roles.
Industry
Applied in tech (web host), biology, etc.
Primarily associated with hospitality roles.
Compare with Definitions
Host
A person who manages an inn or hotel.
Hostess
Female Club Manager
The hostess managed the smooth functioning of the club.
Host
Television Presenter
The host introduced the next segment smoothly.
Hostess
Female Event Manager
The hostess greeted everyone with a warm smile.
Host
Server of Web Content
The web host stores website files and data.
Hostess
Airline Attendant
The flight hostess assisted passengers with their needs.
Host
One who receives or entertains guests in a social or official capacity.
Hostess
Lady Welcoming Guests
The hostess graciously welcomed the guests at the door.
Host
One that furnishes facilities and resources for a function or event
The city chosen as host for the Olympic Games.
Hostess
A woman who receives or entertains guests in a social or official capacity.
Host
The emcee or interviewer on a radio or television program.
Hostess
A woman who manages an inn or hotel.
Host
An organism on which or in which another organism lives.
Hostess
A woman who is the emcee or interviewer on a radio or television program.
Host
A cell that has been infected by a virus or other infective agent.
Hostess
A woman who is employed to greet and assist patrons, as in a restaurant.
Host
(Medicine) The recipient of a transplanted tissue or organ.
Hostess
A woman who is employed to dance with customers in a dance hall or nightclub. See Usage Note at -ess.
Host
A computer or other device providing data or services that a remote computer can access by means of a network or modem.
Hostess
A female host.
The host and hostess greeted their guests at the door.
Host
A computer that is connected to a TCP/IP network such as the internet.
Hostess
A female innkeeper.
Host
An army.
Hostess
Stewardess: a woman steward on an airplane.
Host
A great number; a multitude.
Hostess
A bar hostess or bargirl; a paid female companion offering conversation and in some cases sex.
Host
The consecrated bread or wafer of the Eucharist.
Hostess
To host, as a woman.
Host
To serve as host to or at
"the garden party he had hosted last spring" (Saturday Review).
Hostess
A female host; a woman who hospitably entertains guests at her house.
Host
To provide software that offers data or services, hardware, or both over a computer network.
Hostess
A woman who entertains guests for compensation; a female innkeeper.
Host
One which receives or entertains a guest, socially, commercially, or officially.
A good host is always considerate of the guest’s needs.
Hostess
A woman host
Host
One that provides a facility for an event.
Hostess
A woman innkeeper
Host
A person or organization responsible for running an event.
Our company is host of the annual conference this year.
Hostess
A woman steward on an airplane
Host
A moderator or master of ceremonies for a performance.
The host was terrible, but the acts themselves were good.
Hostess
Woman Overseeing Service
The hostess ensured all guests had refreshments.
Host
Any computer attached to a network.
Host
(ecology) A cell or organism which harbors another organism or biological entity, usually a parasite.
Viruses depend on the host that they infect in order to be able to reproduce.
Host
An organism bearing certain genetic material, with respect to its cells.
The so-called junk DNA is known, so far, to provide no apparent benefit to its host.
Host
A paid male companion offering conversation and in some cases sex, as in certain types of bar in Japan.
Host
A multitude of people arrayed as an army; used also in religious senses, as: Heavenly host (of angels)
Host
A large number of items; a large inventory.
The dealer stocks a host of parts for my Model A.
Host
(Christianity) The consecrated bread of the Eucharist.
Host
To perform the role of a host.
Our company will host the annual conference this year.
I was terrible at hosting that show.
I’ll be hosting tonight. I hope I’m not terrible.
Host
To lodge at an inn.
Host
To run software made available to a remote user or process.
Kremvax hosts a variety of services.
Host
The consecrated wafer, believed to be the body of Christ, which in the Mass is offered as a sacrifice; also, the bread before consecration.
Host
An army; a number of men gathered for war.
A host so great as covered all the field.
Host
Any great number or multitude; a throng.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God.
All at once I saw a crowd,A host, of golden daffodils.
Host
One who receives or entertains another, whether gratuitously or for compensation; one from whom another receives food, lodging, or entertainment; a landlord.
Time is like a fashionable host,That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand.
Host
Any animal or plant affording lodgment or subsistence to a parasitic or commensal organism. Thus a tree is a host of an air plant growing upon it.
Host
To give entertainment to.
Host
To lodge at an inn; to take up entertainment.
Host
A person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
Host
A vast multitude
Host
An animal or plant that nourishes and supports a parasite; the host does not benefit and is often harmed by the association
Host
A person who acts as host at formal occasions (makes an introductory speech and introduces other speakers)
Host
Archaic terms for army
Host
Any organization that provides resources and facilities for a function or event;
Atlanta was chosen to be host for the Olympic Games
Host
(medicine) recipient of transplanted tissue or organ from a donor
Host
The owner or manager of an inn
Host
A technical name for the bread used in the service of Mass or Holy Communion
Host
(computer science) a computer that provides client stations with access to files and printers as shared resources to a computer network
Host
Be the host of or for;
We hosted 4 couples last night
Host
Event Manager
The host ensured the party proceeded without hiccups.
Host
Organism Harboring Parasite
The host was weakened by the parasitic infection.
Host
Large Group
The host of people gathered in the square to celebrate.
Common Curiosities
Does "host" imply a specific gender?
No, "host" can be gender-neutral and refer to any gender.
Is “hostess” used beyond hospitality contexts?
Generally, "hostess" is closely tied to roles involving receiving and managing guests.
Can “host” and “hostess” be used interchangeably?
While “host” can be utilized broadly, “hostess” is gender-specific and is not completely interchangeable.
Can "host" refer to non-human entities?
Yes, "host" can refer to organisms in biology or servers in tech, for instance.
Is “hostess” exclusively used for females?
Yes, "hostess" traditionally refers to a female host.
Is "hostess" a term used in aviation?
Yes, “hostess” has been traditionally used as "air hostess" in aviation, though it’s becoming outdated.
Does "host" always refer to event management?
No, "host" has varied meanings, including roles in broadcasting, technology, and biology.
What are the primary duties of a host?
A host manages, entertains, and ensures the comfort of guests.
Does "hostess" imply a level of formality?
Not necessarily; a hostess can manage both formal and informal gatherings.
Can “hostess” refer to inanimate objects?
Typically, no. "Hostess" generally refers to a female person in a welcoming role.
Is the term "host" modern?
While “host” has historical origins, it is widely used in modern language with varied meanings.
Can a single person be referred to as a host?
Yes, an individual managing guests or an event can be referred to as a host.
Can men be referred to as a “hostess”?
Traditionally, no. "Hostess" is gender-specific to females.
Can "hostess" refer to a management role?
Yes, a hostess can manage events, dining services, or parties, overseeing guest experiences.
Is “host” used in broadcasting?
Yes, “host” is commonly used to describe presenters in broadcasting and media.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
