mall

[ mawl; British also mal ]

noun

1. Also called shopping mall. a large retail complex containing a variety of stores and often restaurants and other business establishments housed in a series of connected or adjacent buildings or in a single large building. Compare shopping center.
2. a large area, usually lined with shade trees and shrubbery, used as a public walk or promenade.
3. Chiefly Upstate New York. a strip of land, usually planted or paved, separating lanes of opposite traffic on highways, boulevards, etc.
4. the game of pall-mall.
5. the mallet used in the game of pall-mall.
6. the place or alley where pall-mall was played.

mall

/ mæl; mɔːl /

noun

1. a shaded avenue, esp one that is open to the public
2. See shopping mall
   short for shopping mall

Word History and Origins

Origin of mall¹

1635–45; the Mall, a fashionable tree-lined promenade in 18th-century London, where originally the game pall-mall ( def ) was played; mell ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of mall¹

C17: after The Mall, in St James's Park, London. See pall-mall

Example Sentences

A late-August Morning Consult survey found that only 36% of consumers were willing to visit a shopping mall in the next 2 – 3 months.

From Search Engine Land

In February, Macy’s said it would close its underperforming stores in the weakest US malls and explore ways to expand beyond malls.

From Quartz

Simon bought fast-fashion purveyor Forever 21 out of bankruptcy earlier this year along with Authentic Brands and another large mall owner, Brookfield Property Partners.

From Ozy

Suddenly Hangzhou’s 10 million residents were all required to show a green code to take the subway, shop for groceries, or enter a mall.

From MIT Technology Review

Almost all the public spaces, starting with the malls and pharmacies, still require masks.

From MIT Technology Review

Your general reaction runs along the lines of: “When will these geezers give it up and go for a mall walk or something?”

From The Daily Beast

They had to go to the bazaar -- as the mall was then called -- and buy them.

From The Daily Beast

The figure enters the elevator and is then seen quickly leaving the mall, black cloth flapping behind it.

From The Daily Beast

Someone dressed as an Emirati woman killed an American teacher in a mall bathroom.

From The Daily Beast

Contrary to what you may assume about me, I actually enjoy the occasional trip to the mall.

From The Daily Beast

The first wounded mall who appealed for help was sitting with his back against a dead comrade.

From Project Gutenberg

The shrill notes of the trumpets sounded louder and louder, and a brilliant cavalcade appeared at the end of the mall.

From Project Gutenberg

A promenade called the mall, shaded by lofty trees, bounds Pont Brillant on the south.

From Project Gutenberg

An old servant woman ushered them into the parlour, which was on the second floor, with windows overlooking the mall.

From Project Gutenberg

When at last she drew up the glass and her chair was borne away down the Mall, he sauntered idly in the opposite direction.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• market
• plaza
• shopping center
• shopping mall