department store

American  

noun

• department stores
  plural

1. a large retail store carrying a wide variety of merchandise and organized into various departments for sales and administrative purposes.

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department store British  

noun

1. a large shop divided into departments selling a great many kinds of goods

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• department stores
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of department store

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

department store

Gauntlett specifically looks for brands that shoppers “wouldn’t be able to walk into a department store and ordinarily see.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Paris department store BHV Marais, which courted controversy last year with a partnership with Asian fast-fashion giant Shein, said Tuesday it had sought bankruptcy protection to protect its operations and jobs.

From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026

In the Grafton Centre, Cambridge, it is a similar story, with shuttered units, a large empty former Debenhams department store and a permanently closed cinema.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

The department store chain Kohl’s prevents agentic purchases, a spokeswoman said, declining to elaborate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

So, after getting the medication, Grandma and I went over to the department store where we were met by Mother and Brother.

From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals

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Related Words

• chain store
• discount store
• shop
• store

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