dealership

American  

[dee-ler-ship] / ˈdi lərˌʃɪp /

noun

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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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

Skobin, a San Fernando Valley car dealership executive and son of a former commissioner, replaced Maria “Lou” Calanche, who resigned to run for a City Council seat on the Eastside.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

Around the same time, Robinson went to inspect the location of an applicant for a dealership license in Baltimore.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026

In late 2020, he bought a luxury Niesmann and Bischoff Smove 7.4e from a dealership in Stafford for £124,550.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Carvana’s Casa Grande, Ariz., dealership became the top-selling Chrysler, Jeep, Ram and Dodge dealer in the U.S. as of April.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

In a small garage on the dealership property, the detailers used little blue rags to make spotless the used or new cars and ready them for sale.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel