concession
kuhn-SESH-uhn
/kənˈsɛʃən/
A commercial stand, booth, or stall within a larger venue where food, drinks, or goods are sold.
In the context of parks and venues, it refers to the physical stand or the right to operate it, distinct from its legal meaning of yielding a point.
The story behind the word. From Latin concessio, meaning a yielding or granting. In commercial terms, it refers to a privilege or lease granted by a property owner to operate a stand or booth.
Word relationships
- food stall: Food stall refers specifically to food vendors, while concession can also include merchandise or game booths.
- independent store: Independent store operates on its own property rather than under a leased privilege inside a larger venue.
Commonly confused with
- franchise: A franchise is a chain-store business model, whereas a concession is a leased space within a specific host venue.
Word family
- concessions (noun): plural of concession
Collocations
- concession stand
- concession stand food
- concession stand prices
- concession stand worker
Example sentences
- "During the seventh-inning stretch, we walked down to the concession stand to buy some hot dogs and sodas." Buying food at a game
- "The city granted a private vendor the concession to sell ice cream throughout the public park." Park operations
Memory hook
You make a concession to buy expensive food because you are hungry at the park. A granted spot for snacks.
When not to use
Do not use for independent, standalone restaurants or retail stores located outside of a host venue.
Fun facts
- The concept of concession stands dates back to ancient Roman coliseums, where vendors were granted spaces to sell wine and figs to spectators.
Explore more words
concede, compromise, appease, appeasement, assent, capitulate
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