department store

noun

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

department store

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of department store¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

People started lining up outside appliance outlets and department stores, risking life and limb to get their sweaty hands on one of the limited-quantity, only-while-supplies-last TVs, power tools, personal computers or designer camisoles.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Set within the historic grounds of the former Beverly Hills Nurseries, which later became the Robinsons-May department store, the gardens will feature two miles of walkways, trails, sitting areas and water features.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some hotels, designer clothes shops and even pharmacies have Mandarin-speaking assistants, while department stores often have signs in Chinese.

Read more on Barron's

Austins department store in Newton Abbot, Devon, was also targeted by Strange on three separate occasions – and staff said they too were able to figure out who she was.

Read more on BBC

As the 2000s progressed, however, consumer habits shifted away from department stores and malls, which triggered their eventual decline.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• chain store 
• discount store 
• shop 
• store