Mall Definition Mall Definition 1

Mall (noun) is a giant indoor shopping center in which you can shop for clothes, electronics, food, and other goods, socialize, and have fun.

Part of speech:
Noun (countable)
Phonetic transcription (IPA):
/mɔːl/
CEFR level:
A1
Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Mall”?

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Tips for “mall” pronunciation: 

It’s just one simple syllable, like “mawl.”Start slowly and then naturally and you will sound confident in a short time.

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How to Use “Mall” in a Sentence

Attempting to understand the word “mall”? The examples below demonstrate how it is normally used in speech and writing by people.

Steve loves visiting the mall to see the latest tech gadgets on display.
The mall organizes fun events during weekends, like live music and fashion shows.
I accidentally got lost in the mall, but the directory helped me find my way.
She met her friends at the mall and they grabbed ice cream at the food court.
Sarah went to Westfield Mall to buy a dress for her party.

What Are Synonyms for the Word “Mall”?

Mall synonyms are used to make your speech and writing more diverse and interesting. Here are some options:

Related nouns: shopping center arcade plaza

Synonyms (contextual): retail complex department store hub

Common collocations: go to the mall local mall big mall

“Mall” Word Formation and Description in Context

You are able to form phrases with “mall” and other components of speech to demonstrate activities, places or even kinds of malls.

With adjectives: indoor mall luxury mall regional mall

With verbs: visit a mall explore a mall open a new mall

With nouns (noun + noun): mall food court mall parking lot mall directory

Idioms and Phrases with “Mall”

The meaning of “mall” can shift a bit when you use it in common phrases. Some of the expressions are popular among the native speakers:

  • Mall rat is a jocular expression of a person who spends most of his/her time in the mall, mostly teenagers.

    Jamie is such a mall rat; she knows every store in Lakeside Mall.
Mall Idioma Mall Idioma 1
  • Mall culture refers to the lifestyle or habits associated with frequenting malls, like shopping, socializing or entertainment.

    Teenagers today are very influenced by mall culture, spending hours browsing and hanging out with friends.
  • Outlet mall is a store in a mall that sells discounted or clearance items.

    I bought a jacket at the mall outlet for half the original price.
  • Strip mall is a small, usually one-story shopping center with stores arranged in a row, often with a shared parking lot in front.

    I stopped by the strip mall near my house to grab a coffee and pick up groceries.

Let’s Check How You Learned the Mall Meaning — Quiz Time!

If you want to strengthen your knowledge of the word “mall,” try this fun activity.

Type 1: True/false statements:
Choose the right option:
1
You can buy clothes and electronics in a mall.
2
Malls are only for teenagers.
3
Many malls have food courts, cinemas and entertainment areas.
Type 2: Right word order:
Put these chaotic words in order:
1
new
opens
mall
The
today
2
at
cinema
the
the
We
mall
watched
a
in
movie
3
friends
my
meet
I
at
the
mall
Type 3: Choose the correct option
Select the right answer that features the meaning of a “mall”:
1
Daisy spent the afternoon at the mall browsing for gifts. It means that Daisy:
2
The new mall has a huge parking lot. Why is this important?
3
During the holiday season, the mall is full of decorations. What does this show?

Enjoy personalized learning!

“Mall” Word in Other Languages

To broaden your knowledge of this word, see how to say “mall” in different European languages.

Language Word for “Mall”
Flag Spanish Spanish   Centro comercial
Flag French French   Centre commercial
Flag German German   Einkaufszentrum

Unusual Facts You May Not Know About “Mall”

One of the best ways to remember and define a “mall” is to make learning fun with some interesting facts. Here are some of the most popular ones:

  • Malls in TV shows

    Malls frequently serve as social hubs where characters congregate, shop, or go to important events in television series. Stranger Things, for instance, emphasizes Starcourt Mall in its third season as a key setting where the characters interact, collaborate, and solve puzzles, fusing adventure with daily life.
  • China has the biggest mall across the globe

    New South China Mall in Dongguan is deemed the largest in terms of total area, which is more than 7.1 million square feet, but most of the stores have remained vacant since coming into existence.
  • Every year Mall of America has more than 40 million visitors

    This mall has over 500 stores, a theme park, an aquarium, countless restaurants and it is situated in Minnesota, USA.
  • Mall was initially used to refer to a walk path that was shaded

    A mall (in the 16th century) meant a long, shaded walkway where people would walk and particularly play the game of pall-mall in Europe. Historical dramas such as Bridgerton frequently depict magnificent promenades and public walks, underlining how important these areas were to social life long before they were transformed into shopping malls.

Memorable Quotes Including “Mall”

The malls have shaped literature, comedy and social commentary, which have depicted culture, society and daily life. The quotes below contain the “mall” in English and what they inform us about such spaces.

“Every town has the same two malls: the one white people go to and the one white people used to go to.”

— Chris Rock

Explanation: This quote is a sarcastic remark on the racial and socioeconomic separations that may be present in societies which may be manifested in the type of shopping places one visits. It highlights the way the malls can become micro-worlds of larger social organizations.

“We used to build civilizations. Now we build shopping malls.”

— Bill Bryson

Explanation: Bryson ponders over the change in values and priorities in society and seems to imply that what we would have once regarded as monumental achievements, such as the establishment of civilizations have been overtaken by consumer-based buildings such as shopping malls.

“If you spend fifteen minutes in a shopping mall, you will pass more people than our ancestors saw during their entire lifetimes.”

— Rolf Dobelli

Explanation: Dobelli focuses on the speed and magnitude of contemporary human interaction that the concentration of people in the modern environment, such as shopping centers is far greater than in previous generations.