department store
department store
Pronunciation
Department Store
/dɪˈpɑːrtmənt stɔːr/
Syllable Breakdown:
De-: /dɪ/ (as in "duh")
part-: /pɑːrt/ (as in "part")
ment: /mənt/ (as in "ment" in "moment")
Store: /stɔːr/ (as in "store")
Word Form Variations
The term "department store" is a compound noun. Its variations are primarily in its plural form:
Singular: department store
Plural: department stores
There are no common verb, adjective, or adverb forms of this specific compound term.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Department Store (plural: department stores)
A large retail establishment that sells a wide variety of consumer goods, organized into separate sections or "departments" devoted to particular product categories, such as clothing, home furnishings, cosmetics, and electronics. These stores typically offer a broad range of prices and brands, aiming to provide a comprehensive shopping experience under one roof.
Synonyms: emporium, mega-store, superstore, big box store (though "big box store" often implies a more discount-oriented model), retail giant
Antonyms: boutique, specialty shop, corner store, convenience store, kiosk
(Figurative, informal) A place, situation, or entity that offers an extensive and diverse collection of items, options, or services, reminiscent of the varied offerings found in a physical department store.
Synonyms: treasure trove, smorgasbord, cornucopia, grab bag
Antonyms: limited selection, narrow scope, restricted offering, niche market
Examples of Use
Books
"Evelyn, a former window dresser for a prestigious department store, meticulously arranged the antique porcelain dolls on the mantelpiece." (From a contemporary novel, specific title not provided for anonymity)
In Émile Zola's Au Bonheur des Dames (The Ladies' Paradise), the narrative vividly portrays the rise of a grand Parisian department store and its impact on society and smaller businesses.
Newspapers
"Macy's announced plans to close several underperforming department store locations nationwide as part of a broader restructuring effort." (The Wall Street Journal)
"The local council is debating whether to approve the construction of a new multi-story department store in the city center, promising job creation but raising concerns about traffic congestion." (Daily Nation)
Online Publications
"The future of the American department store hinges on its ability to adapt to evolving consumer preferences and the dominance of e-commerce." (Forbes.com)
"Luxury department stores like Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue are investing heavily in personalized shopping experiences to attract and retain high-end clientele." (BusinessofFashion.com)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Film: In the classic holiday film Miracle on 34th Street, the entire plot revolves around Kris Kringle working as Santa Claus for the fictional Macy's department store.
Television Series: "The characters often met for coffee or went shopping at the grand department store that served as a central hub in the fictional Upper East Side." (Referring to scenes in Gossip Girl, specific episode not cited)
Video Game: "Players can explore a vast, abandoned department store in the post-apocalyptic game, scavenging for supplies and encountering mutated creatures." (From a popular survival horror game, specific title not cited)
General Public Discourse
"I remember going to that old department store downtown with my grandmother every Christmas; it felt magical." (Comment overheard in a casual conversation)
"Online shopping is convenient, but sometimes I just miss the experience of Browse through a real department store and trying things on." (Social media post)
"Are department stores still relevant in today's retail landscape, or are they a dying breed?" (Question posed during a community forum)
10 Quotes Using Department Store
"I never think that people die. They just go to department stores." (Andy Warhol)
"In department stores, so much kitchen equipment is bought indiscriminately by people who just come in for men's underwear." (Julia Child)
"I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph." (Shirley Temple)
"Most men hate to shop. That's why the men's department is usually on the first floor of a department store, two inches from the door." (John Wayne)
"A great department store, easily reached, open at all hours, is more like a good museum of art than any of the museums we have yet established." (John Cotton Dana)
"When I was at college, I worked in a department store called Brit Home Stores, which is a pretty lackluster department store, selling clothes for middle-aged women." (Dominic Monaghan)
"Chinese people, young people, they don't go shopping a lot in department stores." (Jack Ma)
"My desire to curtail undue freedom of speech extends only to such public areas as restaurants, airports, streets, hotel lobbies, parks, and department stores." (Fran Lebowitz)
"The department store was a product of the 19th century and became a very important institution as America went into the 20th century." (Stanley Marcus)
"You know how sometimes department stores have these things where, if you win, you get 10 minutes to go in and take anything you want from the store? That's basically what I'm doing." (Ryan Gosling)
Etymology
The term "department store" is a straightforward combination of two older words: "department" and "store."
Department: This part of the word comes from the Old French word "departement," which meant "division" or "sharing out." By the 18th century, "department" in English had come to mean a "separate division of a complex whole," like a distinct branch of an organization or government.
Store: This word has a much older origin, going back to Old English and Germanic roots, simply meaning a "place where things are kept" or a "supply of goods."
So, when these two words came together, "department store" literally meant a "store with separate divisions" or "sections."
The first known use of the specific phrase "department store" to describe the kind of retail establishment we know today appeared in the late 19th century. Sources generally place its first use around 1878 (according to Etymonline) or slightly later, like 1887 (according to Merriam-Webster).
Before the term became common, these large, multi-sectioned shops were developing in major cities like Paris, London, and New York throughout the mid-19th century. They were a new way of shopping, bringing together many different kinds of goods (like clothing, housewares, and cosmetics) under one roof, each in its own specialized "department." This was a big change from the older system where you had to go to many different small, specialized shops for everything you needed.
The original meaning, therefore, was exactly what it sounds like: a large shop organized into various departments, making it convenient for customers to find a wide array of products in a single location.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Department Store
A one-stop department store: Referring to a place or service that provides everything one might need, akin to a department store's wide offerings.
To feel like a department store mannequin: To feel stiff, lifeless, or like you're being displayed for others to look at.
To wander through a mental department store: To consider a vast array of options or possibilities in one's mind.
A department store of ideas: A collection of many diverse and varied concepts.
Department store prices: Implies a range of prices from affordable to high-end, or sometimes a slight premium compared to discount stores.
Like a sale at a department store: Describing something that is chaotic, bustling, or highly competitive.
To have a department store's worth of problems: To have an overwhelming number and variety of issues.
An emporium of knowledge: (Using a synonym) A place or source containing a vast amount of information.
A retail giant's reach: (Using a synonym) Describing the extensive influence or presence of a large commercial entity.
Browse the human superstore: (Using a synonym, more metaphorical) Observing a wide variety of people in a public place.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of department store from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
