dealership
Americannoun
-
authorization to sell a commodity.
He got the dealership for the area after a long investigation into his credit status.
-
a sales agency or distributor having such authorization.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of dealership
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Penske Corp. paired up with the Japanese investment firm to offer $210 a share to take the auto dealership chain private.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Jimmy Eat World’s Adkins, Burch, drummer Zach Lind and guitarist Tom Linton earned recording money between tours by working construction, driving around car dealership customers and selling art supplies and auto parts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
A salesperson at the dealership tried to give them a car loan with an interest rate around 7%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
José was a pillar of his community; he rose from washing cars to owning his own car dealership, alongside other businesses in Bakersfield.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
“I’m going to check out another dealership first.”
From "Ruby Holler" by Sharon Creech
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 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
Ghaffar sued Paulson, claiming he had been misled into investing $17 million in a Puerto Rican company that owns luxury car dealerships.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
My grandfather started in the auto-body industry, and now our family operates dealerships that rely heavily on diesel trucks and commercial vehicles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026
Perhaps on his rare sojourns into civilization, Smith had passed the Howard Automobile Company dealerships springing up.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
