showroom

[shoh-room, -roo m]

See more synonyms for showroom on Thesaurus.com

noun

a room used for the display of goods or merchandise.

verb (used without object)

to come into a store to view merchandise and then purchase it from a competitor, usually online, as to get a lower price or wider selection: For shoes, I usually showroom at a couple of stores, then buy them cheaper online.
to be used as a place to view rather than buy merchandise: No store wants to showroom for a website.

verb (used with object)

to display (merchandise) in a showroom.
to enter a store and view (merchandise) before purchasing it from a competitor, usually online.
to use or encourage people to use (a store) as a place to view rather than buy merchandise: The online retailers are showrooming us out of business. We’re being showroomed by consumers who browse our stores without buying.

Origin of showroom

First recorded in 1610–20; show + room

Related formsshow·room·ing, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for showroom

shop, market, showroom, emporium, chain, boutique, outlet, mill, store, stand, deli, supermarket, drugstore, room, hall, parlor, gallery, exhibit, salon, museum

Examples from the Web for showroom

Contemporary Examples of showroom

The American Library in the Catalonian capital is bombed, an I.B.M. showroom has a brick tossed through its front window.
Whit Stillman on the 20th Anniversary of ‘Barcelona’, His New Amazon Series, and the Myth of the Ugly Expat
Michael Weiss
August 10, 2014
They knew about it and they could have stopped it before the first car went in the showroom.
The Cops Who Found Out the Truth About GM's Deadly Cars—in 2006
Michael Daly
July 17, 2014
On display in the showroom were elegant women in long black pants and finely lapelled jackets and trenches.
The Last "Real" Couture House
Liza Foreman
March 5, 2014
His showroom remains in Antwerp rather than a major fashion capital like Paris or London.
What Drives Fashion Designer Dries Van Noten
Sarah Moroz
March 4, 2014
Gucci sounded the opening bell of a week of runway presentations and showroom installations.
Gucci by Sunlight
Robin Givhan
September 19, 2012

Historical Examples of showroom

Elkan made no reply, but walked to the centre of the showroom.
Elkan Lubliner, American
Montague Glass
"That's all right," Polatkin said as he led the way to the showroom.
Elkan Lubliner, American
Montague Glass
Polatkin walked across the showroom to the rack in question.
Elkan Lubliner, American
Montague Glass
If Miss Kennedy herself did not attend to the showroom, what would she do?
All Sorts and Conditions of Men
Walter Besant
"Here I am, Aaron," Sam said, as he came fairly running from the showroom.
The Competitive Nephew
Montague Glass

British Dictionary definitions for showroom

showroom

noun

a room in which goods, such as cars, are on display

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for showroom

"room for displaying furniture for sale," 1610s, from show (v.) + room (n.).