department store

noun

1. a large retail store carrying a wide variety of merchandise and organized into various departments for sales and administrative purposes.

department store

noun

1. a large shop divided into departments selling a great many kinds of goods

Word History and Origins

Origin of department store¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

She had a man take his fingers and shove them into her body against her will in a department store dressing room, and then turn and walk away as if nothing happened.

From Salon

The Magic Cottage had taken over the unit last year, which was previously occupied for nearly a century by family-run department store Richards of Abergavenny.

From BBC

Team GB and Paralympics GB medallists attended a reception at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, but Paralympians were not invited to an after-party hosted by the luxury department store.

From BBC

The luxury department store said Dame Jasvinder's appointment was an extension of its claims process which "includes counselling as well as payment of all reasonable legal fees incurred by claimants".

From BBC

The luxury department store has a compensation scheme for ex-employees who say they were attacked by Al Fayed, which is separate from the legal case against it.

From BBC

Related Words

• chain store
• discount store
• shop
• store