A hoist is a device used for lifting or lowering a load by means of a drum or barrel around which rope or chain wraps. May be manually operated, or electrically or pneumatically driven and may use chain, or fiber or wire rope as its lifting medium.

A hoist normally is used for lifting (near vertical) and a winch is normally used for pulling (near horizontal).

A hoist in Flag terminology means the half of a flag nearest to the flagpole.