Hosp

Hosp is an abbreviation for hospital, used primarily in English-language medical and administrative contexts. It appears in medical charts, patient transport documentation, facility rosters, and sometimes on signage where space is limited. In many English-speaking countries, “Hosp.” with a period is a common formal abbreviation, while “Hosp” without a period is also used in more modern or style-guide–friendly contexts. Usage can vary by country, institution, and the relevant style guide.

Etymology and form: The word hospital comes from Old French hospitel or hospit, from Latin hospitālis, related to guests and hospitality. The abbreviation “hosp” is formed by truncating the root of the word.

Usage notes: Abbreviations can cause confusion with related terms such as “host” or “hospice.” In multilingual or international settings, local conventions may apply, and some contexts prefer the full word “hospital” to avoid ambiguity. In information systems, “HOSP” is sometimes used as a field label or code segment to indicate the hospital identifier, but coding schemes vary by system and organization.

See also: hospital, healthcare facility, medical records, signage.