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Glite Dictionary
air hostess

air hostess

1 2.2
A woman who looks after passengers on a plane
  • noun
  • /ɛr ˈhoʊstəs/
  • Archaic
: azafata
  • The air hostess swished by to collect his tray.

So all of the air hostesses that work for them, they all drink for free, eat for free, entry for free.

Examples

  • - l bet they're Singapore air hostesses.

    Rogue Trader (1999)

  • And that means pilot, that means air hostesses or air Hostess, that means the whole team.

  • I used to live next door to an air hostess just like that.

    Bob Roberts (1992)

  • So all of the air hostesses that work for them, they all drink for free, eat for free, entry for free.

    Chris Williamson

  • Would the air hostess take a cane to him if he asked her for a fork and knife?

    Fiction book (1992)

  • While Stig works for Air India as an air-hostess.

    The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978)

  • Joseph turned to look at the air hostess's retreating back in profound dismay.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • When this happens, it really is a case of just gritting your teeth and waiting for the storm to pass (whilst signaling to the air hostess that you would like a double brandy).

    Blog text (1)

  • The air hostess straightened up, controlled her irritation, and smiled sweetly but briskly as she walked down to him.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The air hostess greeted us with a warm smile as we boarded the plane.

Synonyms

flight attendant
vsair hostess
83 3.2

A person who looks after passengers on an airplane and keeps them safe and comfortable

focuses mainly on caring for passengers rather than safety responsibilities
stewardess
vsair hostess
  • Archaic
62 4.6

A woman who works on an airplane and looks after passengers

is the older female-only term used for that cabin role
steward
vsair hostess
  • UK
13 3.8

A person who serves and looks after passengers on a ship or plane

applies only to crew working on aircraft rather than ships as well
hostess
vsair hostess
  • Archaic
7 5.3

A woman who looks after passengers on an airplane

is the same female job expressed in a slightly different older way
air host
vsair hostess
  • Archaic
4.2

A man who helps passengers on a plane and keeps them safe and comfortable

is the female form of the same passenger care role
trolley dolly
vsair hostess
  • Offensive
9.8

An informal word for a person who serves food and drinks on a plane

is a neutral job title emphasizing the overall passenger care role

Surface Forms

air hostess singular
air hostesses plural

Morphology

air + hostess

The meaning 'a woman who looks after passengers on an aircraft' is directly and transparently derived from 'air' (aviation/air travel) + 'hostess' (a female attendant). This noun-noun composition is cross-linguistically common and follows straightforward English compounding, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The term air hostess imagines a hostess working in the air, a friendly woman who welcomes and cares for people on a plane like a host at a party. That's why it means 'a woman whose job is to look after passengers on an aircraft'.