shopping centre: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

It is standardly written as two words: 'shopping centre' (UK) / 'shopping center' (US). Hyphenation ('shopping-centre') is rare and generally considered incorrect for the noun.

A 'high street' (UK) or 'main street' (US) is a traditional public street in a town centre lined with individual shops. A 'shopping centre' is a single, planned building or complex, often under one management, which may be located away from the traditional town centre.

Yes, especially in British English. It can refer to a pedestrianised precinct with multiple shops, which may be open-air, covered, or fully enclosed. In American English, an open-air collection of stores is more likely called a 'shopping plaza' or 'strip mall'.

Its primary purpose is to concentrate a wide variety of retail outlets in one convenient location to attract customers, but modern centres also serve as social and leisure destinations, often featuring cinemas, restaurants, and play areas.

A large building or complex containing many individual shops and stores, designed for convenient shopping.

Shopping centre is usually neutral in register.

Shopping centre: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃɒpɪŋ ˌsɛntə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃɑːpɪŋ ˌsɛntər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.