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

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

The U.S.’s move to ban future Polestar cars may have also given the company cover to exit amid a difficult business climate, said Alan Haig of Haig Partners, a dealership M&A firm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

Saad Attar owns the Fort Worth, Texas, dealership that sold the 2020 Malibu to Kang, whose jaw was disfigured in the crash.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

A precocious young Samuel can still be found showing off his dance and Spanish skills in an old commercial for the dealership.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

After Zeitoun’s release, their friend Walt loaned them a car from his Lexus dealership, and Kathy and Zeitoun drove it back into the city and to the house on Dart.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

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 Polestar spokesman said it isn’t terminating dealerships and that it values its dealers and is working with them to “manage this transition.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● 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 Federal Trade Commission issued a warning to more than 200 auto dealerships: stop advertising cars online with dubious discounts or thousands of dollars in hidden fees.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

He had interests in car dealerships and a local chain of electronics stores, in addition to his core business of selling high-end dry-cleaning equipment.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee