innkeeper

IPA/ˈɪnkiːpə(r)/
KK[ˈɪnkˌipɚ]IPA/ˈɪnkiːpər/

innkeeper — noun

  • innkeepersingular
  • innkeepersplural

1. someone who ran a small hotel or tavern where travellers could stay overnight, e

1.nounB2
Definition

someone who ran a small hotel or tavern where travellers could stay overnight, eat meals, and rest their horses — a job that was common before modern hotels existed.

Example

The old innkeeper, Baraka, welcomed tired travellers with warm stew and a roaring fire.

collocation: welcomed travellers with [food]

Sofie's great-grandfather was the innkeeper who once hosted a famous poet.

collocation: hosted a famous [person]

Common collocations
  • former innkeeper
  • local innkeeper
  • friendly innkeeper
  • retired innkeeper
  • elderly innkeeper
Synonyms
  • landlord

    broader term for anyone who rents out property; still in everyday modern use for a property owner

  • publican

    chiefly British; refers primarily to a pub owner, who may also offer lodging

  • host

    most general — anyone who welcomes guests; does not imply a commercial business

Antonyms
  • guest

    the person who receives lodging rather than the person who provides it

  • traveller

    the person passing through, not the one offering rest and food

Usage Note

This word is most common in historical fiction or when describing old-fashioned roadside lodging. In modern contexts, hotel manager, B&B owner, or front-desk clerk are more typical choices.

Common Mistakes

The innkeeper of the modern hotel checked us in.
The hotel manager checked us in.
'innkeeper' describes a historical role at a small country inn or tavern, not a modern hotel employee.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe someone who accommodates others, but they differ in setting and historical weight. An innkeeper specifically ran a small lodging house or tavern for travellers — a role that appears most often in historical fiction and period writing. Landlord is far broader, covering anyone who rents out property such as houses or apartments, and it remains current today. Publican (chiefly British) refers to the owner or manager of a pub, where lodging is optional rather than central. Host is the most general term of all: anyone who welcomes guests, whether in a private home or a commercial venue, without implying that the person owns the establishment. For example: 'The innkeeper lit a lantern for the arriving stagecoach.' 'Their landlord raised the monthly rent.' 'The publican pulled a pint of ale for the regulars.' 'Our host offered us tea and biscuits.'

landlord ↗publicanhost ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • former innkeeper
  • local innkeeper
  • retired innkeeper
  • friendly innkeeper

Phrases

  • run an inn
  • keep an inn
  • work as an innkeeper
  • serve as an innkeeper

Prepositions

  • of the village
  • at the tavern

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

A compound word made from 'inn' (a small hotel or tavern, from Old English 'inn', meaning a dwelling or lodging place) and 'keeper' (a person who guards or takes care of something, from Old English 'cepan', to care for or guard). Together they form 'innkeeper', literally 'one who keeps an inn'.