concourse
KON-kors
/ˈkɒŋkɔːrs/
A large open area or main hallway inside a public building, such as a mall, airport, or station, where people gather or pass through.
Refers specifically to the circulation space—the 'streets' of the mall.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'concursus', meaning a 'running together'. It originally described a crowd of people rushing to the same place.
Word relationships
- thoroughfare: A thoroughfare is usually a road or path; a concourse is specifically an indoor area.
Commonly confused with
- atrium: A concourse is for walking through; an atrium is a vertical space for looking up.
Collocations
- main concourse
- airport concourse
- central concourse
Example sentences
- "The main concourse was packed with holiday shoppers rushing between the various wings of the mall." Describing a busy transit or shopping hub.
Memory hook
A 'Concourse' is where people 'Con-gregate' to 'Course' (run) through the building. The mall's main highway.
When not to use
Do not use for a narrow corridor or a private room.
Fun facts
- In the 19th century, a concourse often referred to a large gathering of people for a political or social reason.
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