We at Hostelworld.com are campaigning to redefine the word 'hostel' as it appears in current editions of major UK and online dictionaries as we feel that current definitions are out of date and incorrect:
Oxford English Dictionary:
1 an establishment which provides cheap food and lodging for a specific group of people, such as students, workers, etc.
2 an inn providing accommodation.
Chambers Compact Dictionary:
1 a residence providing shelter for the homeless, esp one run for charitable rather than for profitable purposes.
2 a residence for students, nurses, etc.
3 a YOUTH HOSTEL
Collins English Dictionary:
1 a building providing overnight accommodation at a low cost for particular groups of people, such as the homeless
2 same as youth hostel
3 Brit & NZ a supervised lodging house for nurses, students etc
Dictionary.com:
1 Also called youth hostel - an inexpensive, supervised lodging place for young people on bicycle trips, hikes etc.
2 British a residence hall at a university
3 an inn
The image of hostels associated with boarding school dormitories, cold showers and mugs of cocoa is out of date. Hostels have moved on but, sadly, some dictionary definitions haven't. Language is always evolving and modern hostels are nothing like the image some dictionaries portray - it is time they changed. That's why we at Hostelworld.com are campaigning to get the definition changed to:
Hostel: Budget, fun, sociable accommodation for people of all ages
If you support this campaign to urge dictionaries to change their current hostel definitions please sign our petition.
Some of you might be thinking "surely there are more important things in the world to be petitioning about?" If you are, you'd be right. But not all petitions are serious ones, and this is just our way of making a definition of a word in the dictionary more up-to-date. But at the same time we here at Hostelworld.com are doing our bit to make the world a better place - we proudly support UNICEF in their global fight against HIV/AIDS and world poverty among young people, children and their families as every time you make a booking we make a donation to Unicef. To date Hostelworld.com, along with your help, has donated US $513,206.00 to UNICEF. For more details click here »