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

Portia Place sounded like a German car dealership.

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

Carvana’s business model often appeals to people burned out by the traditional dealership experience or those who have been turned off to new cars entirely.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

For a minute, Felix thought Benji might suggest leaving Felix at the car dealership so he could ride in the Bugatti.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

They can be used for performances and presentations, child care, companionship and customer service assistance at places such as car dealerships and salons.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

Clothing stores, furniture stores and car dealerships may be among the more obvious places to make a deal, but there are some other negotiable goods and services that may be less well known.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 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 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

The last bus lets us off on a commercial strip peppered with car dealerships.

From "The Fourteenth Goldfish" by Jennifer L. Holm