parking lot

American  

noun

1. an area, usually divided into individual spaces, intended for parking motor vehicles.

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parking lot British  

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): car park.  an area or building reserved for parking cars

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Etymology

Origin of parking lot

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Example Sentences

Once completed later this year, Rivian’s plant in Normal, Ill., will draw electricity from more than 100 Rivian EV batteries in an area the size of a small parking lot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Sixty miles from Julian, I turn onto Bannister Road and bump north along a gravel track for three miles into the basin, to a parking lot 164 feet below sea level.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

After most appointments, my mom would pull her van into the Starbucks parking lot in the shopping center next door.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

The roughly 16,000-square-foot establishment is a beloved gathering spot for bikers, especially on weekends, when motorcycles in the parking lot usually outnumber cars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Just as Swanson made his discovery, Crandell and Mullineaux approached the Timberline parking lot.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Related Words

• garage
• park