parking lot

American  

noun

1. an area, usually divided into individual spaces, intended for parking motor vehicles.

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parking lot British  

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): car park.  an area or building reserved for parking cars

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Etymology

Origin of parking lot

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Example Sentences

After most appointments, my mom would pull her van into the Starbucks parking lot in the shopping center next door.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

The roughly 16,000-square-foot establishment is a beloved gathering spot for bikers, especially on weekends, when motorcycles in the parking lot usually outnumber cars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

And, for the first time in years, the parking lot was empty.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Park on the west end of the parking lot to access the decomposed granite path leading to the 1.17-acre habitat garden.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

The horses burst from the wooded trail into a small gravel parking lot.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• garage
• park