department store
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of department store
An Americanism dating back to 1885–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Originally a huge music department store which sold records and instruments, the building had been slated for demolition after the store filed for insolvency in 1995.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett and the late Vice Chairman Charlie Munger famously regretted their decision to buy a department store.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
High-end department store Fortnum & Mason is selling its own a short walk away.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
Macy’s faces declining department store views, but Bloomingdale’s comparable sales increased 7% last year.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
Hecht’s department store is about a mile away.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
