dealership

American  

[dee-ler-ship] / ˈdi lərˌʃɪp /

noun

• dealerships
  plural

1. authorization to sell a commodity.

   He got the dealership for the area after a long investigation into his credit status.

2. a sales agency or distributor having such authorization.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dealerships
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dealership

First recorded in 1915–20; dealer + -ship

Explanation

A store that has approval to sell a specific brand of goods is a dealership. If you have your heart set on buying a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle, you might want to visit a dealership for a test ride. A business is considered a dealership if its owner is authorized to sell a certain item (in other words, they're a dealer of that product). It's most common to talk about car dealerships, whether the cars they sell are new or used, but there are also boat dealerships and recreational vehicle dealerships. This word dates from about 1916, when it was defined as "the business of an authorized trader."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dealership dealerships

"Zhang Xue has brought glory to China, so I want to support him," said Hu Zhaomeng, picking up his gleaming red 500 model from a Chongqing dealership.

From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026

While the car has an option to switch to an analog-style reading, it took a tech at his dealership about a half-hour to figure out, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

But one roadblock consumers may face is a lack of EVs in the dealership lot.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

Tanner Stewart, 30 years old, a Taco Bell regular, said he found himself doubled over in pain early last week while at his job at a Deere dealership in Kansas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

Ted's dad ran the parts department at a Ford dealership, and his mom was the secretary at a real estate agency.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements

“Your alternative is to have products in 2026 that don’t have state-of-the-art technology,” said Chris Lemley, president of the Sentry Auto Group dealerships outside of Boston.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Tolman founder Chris Tolman says what Priestley is learning sets him apart from apprentices in mainstream car dealerships, who, due to digital tools, are increasingly becoming "just fitters".

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

The model eventually reached dealerships in 2024, when enthusiasm for electric vehicles was already waning.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

The EV incentives will take effect in the coming weeks as the California Air Resources Board irons out agreements with dealerships.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026

I stare out the window at the fancy grocery store and car dealerships that we’re driving past.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden