concourse
KAHN-kors
/ˈkɑːnkɔːrs/
A large open area inside or in front of a public building, such as a train station or airport terminal, where crowds gather or pass through.
Emphasizes a central gathering space built to accommodate massive foot traffic moving in multiple directions.
The story behind the word. From Old French concors, from Latin concursus ('a running together'), from concurrer (com- 'together' + currere 'to run'). It originally referred to a gathering or crowd of people before shifting to mean the space designed to hold such gatherings.
Word relationships
- plaza: 'Plaza' usually refers to an outdoor open public square, whereas 'concourse' is typically enclosed inside a major transit terminal.
- hall: 'Hall' is a generic room or passage, lacking the grand, wide-open gathering intent of a concourse.
- nook: A small, secluded, or narrow corner.
Commonly confused with
- thoroughfare: A 'thoroughfare' is a street or path meant for continuous forward travel; a 'concourse' is a wide gathering hall.
Collocations
- station concourse
- main concourse
- airport concourse
- crowded concourse
Example sentences
- "Passengers flooded into the central concourse of Grand Central Terminal as the departure boards updated." Transit hub movement
- "The airport concourse was lined with shops, cafes, and seating areas for waiting travelers." Airport layout
Memory hook
CON (together) + COURSE (run path): Where all crowd courses run together. Where crowd courses collide.
When not to use
Do not use for a narrow hallway, small corridor, or personal residential foyer.
Fun facts
- Grand Central Terminal's Main Concourse features a celestial ceiling painted with 2,500 stars, painted backward because it was copied from a medieval manuscript view from outside the celestial sphere.
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