# host

> English word · Noun · IPA /həʊst/ · frequency rank #1,758

## Definitions
1. One which receives or entertains a guest, socially, commercially, or officially.
2. One that provides a facility for an event.
3. A person or organization responsible for running an event.
4. A moderator or master of ceremonies for a performance.
5. The primary member of a system, typically the member who fronts most often.
6. Any computer attached to a network.
7. A cell or organism which harbors another organism or biological entity, usually a parasite.
8. An organism bearing certain genetic material, with respect to its cells.
9. A paid male companion offering conversation and in some cases sex, as in certain types of bar in Japan.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *gʰóstis
Proto-Indo-European *pótis
Proto-Indo-European *gʰóstipotis
Proto-Italic *hostipotis
Latin hospes
Old French ostebor.
Middle English hoste
English host
From Middle English hoste, from Old French oste (French: hôte), from Latin hospitem, accusative of hospes (“a host, also a sojourner, visitor, guest; hence, a foreigner, a stranger”), from *hostipotis, an old compound of hostis and the root of potis, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰóstipotis (“master of guests”), from *gʰóstis (“stranger, guest, enemy”) and *pótis (“owner, master, host, husband”). Used in English since 13th century.

## Easily confused with
- **how** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-how)
- **hot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hot)
- **hut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hut)
- **Hou** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hou)
- **hoy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hoy)
- **Hsu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hsu)
- **hse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hse)
- **HRT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hrt)
- **Hus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hus)
- **HTS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hts)
- **HSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hsa)
- **Hsi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hsi)
- **HOV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hov)
- **hour** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hour)
- **hurt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hurt)
- **hunt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hunt)
- **Howe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-howe)
- **hush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hush)
- **howl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-howl)
- **hove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/host-vs-hove)

## Common misspellings (4)
`hhost`, `hosst`, `hostt`, `ohst`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/host