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.

---

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

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

Lately, car makers have abandoned cheap models and gone all in on loaded pickup trucks and luxury sport-utility vehicles, so average dealership prices have topped $50,000.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

The records showed plans for deploying roughly 20 motorcycle officers to clear traffic along the proposed route from one Porsche dealership in Santa Clarita to another in Woodland Hills.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

Ted's dad ran the parts department at a Ford dealership, and his mom was the secretary at a real estate agency.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements