Definition

Noun: A business establishment or company whose primary commercial activity is the selling and purchasing of automobiles.

Usage

A "car dealer" is a retailer of new or used cars. It typically refers to the business entity itself, not an individual salesperson, though the term can sometimes be used informally in that context. The core function is acting as an intermediary in vehicle transactions.

Examples

• The car dealer offered a generous trade-in value for my old vehicle.
• We visited several car dealers before deciding on a model.
• That car dealer has a reputation for honest business practices.

Advanced Usage

• Franchised car dealer: A dealership authorized by a specific manufacturer to sell new vehicles of that brand.
  • He bought the truck from a franchised Ford car dealer.
• Independent car dealer: A dealership not tied to a specific manufacturer, often specializing in used vehicles.
  • The independent car dealer had a diverse selection of pre-owned cars.

Variants and Related Words

• Dealership (n): Often used synonymously with "car dealer" to mean the business itself. It can also refer to the authorization to sell a specific brand.
  • She works at a Honda dealership.
• Automobile dealer (n): A more formal term with the same meaning.
• Used-car dealer (n): A dealer specializing in pre-owned vehicles.

Synonyms

• Automobile dealership
• Motor vehicle retailer

Related Phrases

• Car dealership: This is the most common compound phrase, essentially identical in meaning to "car dealer" when referring to the business location or entity.
  • The new car dealership opened on the highway.

Noun

1. a firm that sells and buys cars