Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

strip mall

American  

noun

  1. a retail complex consisting of stores or restaurants in adjacent spaces in one long building, typically having a narrow parking area directly in front of the stores.


Etymology

Origin of strip mall

First recorded in 1990–95

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.

He had been traveling north on Hillcrest when he was stopped behind a strip mall that includes a grocery store and a 24-hour gym.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

That may have been outré to a middle and high-schooler trying to be cool, but at some point post-college, the Chili Peppers became synonymous with sweaty fools passing out in strip mall parking lots.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Around the crack of dawn, a line begins forming at a strip mall in Hyattsville, Maryland, as residents ranging from students to delivery workers and federal contractors wait to sign up for food assistance.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

In 1978, at age 40, Simons founded Renaissance Technologies in a strip mall on Long Island.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 15, 2025

Ahead, I saw a strip mall wavering in the bright distance.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "strip mall" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com