Hall vs. Mall — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 25, 2024
Hall emphasizes a large room or building designed for meetings, performances, or events, while a mall is a complex of shops and stores designed for shopping and entertainment.
Difference Between Hall and Mall
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Hall is typically a large room or space within a building, used for various gatherings such as meetings, banquets, or events, designed to accommodate a significant number of people. These spaces can be found within educational, civic, or residential buildings, serving a multifunctional purpose depending on the event. On the other hand, a mall is a large, enclosed shopping complex that houses a variety of retail stores, restaurants, and often entertainment venues like cinemas and arcades. Malls are designed to offer a comprehensive shopping experience, providing consumers with a wide range of products and services under one roof.
While halls are known for their singular, large open spaces that can be customized for different functions, malls consist of multiple individual stores and spaces interconnected through walkways. This structural difference highlights their distinct purposes: halls for gathering and events, and malls for shopping and entertainment. The design of a hall is often simpler, focusing on accommodating a large number of people, whereas malls are more complex, with attention to architectural details that enhance the shopping experience.
Halls play a significant role in cultural, educational, or community events by providing a venue for performances, lectures, and gatherings. They often have historical or cultural significance, representing the heritage of a community or institution. Malls, however, contribute to the economy by serving as a hub for commerce and social interaction, reflecting contemporary consumer culture. They are modern constructs designed to cater to the needs and preferences of the public.
In terms of accessibility and usage, halls are generally available for rent or booking for specific events, making them a temporary venue for various functions. Malls, however, are accessible to the public most days of the year, offering a permanent location for businesses and services. This distinction underlines the temporary versus ongoing nature of the activities housed within these spaces.
Comparison Chart
Primary Purpose
Gatherings, meetings, performances
Shopping, dining, entertainment
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Structure
Singular, large open space
Multiple stores and spaces interconnected by walkways
Functionality
Adaptable for various events
Fixed for retail and leisure activities
Significance
Cultural, educational, community events
Commerce, social interaction
Accessibility
Available for rent or booking for specific events
Open to the public most days of the year
Compare with Definitions
Hall
A large room or space within a building designed for gatherings such as meetings or events.
The grand hall was elegantly decorated for the annual gala.
Mall
A large enclosed shopping area with various stores and businesses.
We spent the afternoon shopping at the new mall downtown.
Hall
In educational institutions, a residence hall or dormitory.
Freshmen are required to live in the central hall during their first year.
Mall
A pedestrian promenade or public space.
The city's central mall is lined with cafes and boutiques.
Hall
In residential buildings, a corridor or passageway.
She walked down the long hall to reach her apartment.
Mall
A term used to describe a shopping center in American English.
The regional mall attracts visitors from surrounding areas with its exclusive stores.
Hall
A building or large room used for public gatherings or exhibitions.
The science fair was held in the city hall.
Mall
In historical contexts, a grassy promenade used for walking and socializing.
In the 18th century, the mall was a popular place for afternoon strolls among the elite.
Hall
An organization's premises or building.
The new student hall includes both living spaces and study areas.
Mall
A complex including various entertainment facilities besides shopping stores.
The mall features a movie theater, a food court, and an indoor amusement park.
Hall
In architecture, a hall is a relatively large space enclosed by a roof and walls. In the Iron Age and early Middle Ages in northern Europe, a mead hall was where a lord and his retainers ate and also slept.
Mall
A large, often enclosed shopping complex containing various stores, businesses, and restaurants usually accessible by common passageways.
Hall
A corridor or passageway in a building.
Mall
A street lined with shops and closed to vehicles.
Hall
A large entrance room or vestibule in a building; a lobby.
Mall
A shady public walk or promenade.
Hall
A building for public gatherings or entertainments.
Mall
Chiefly Upstate New York See median.
Hall
The large room in which such events are held.
Mall
A pedestrianised street, especially a shopping precinct.
Hall
A building used for the gatherings and social activities of a church, fraternal order, or other organization.
Mall
An enclosed shopping centre.
Hall
A building belonging to a school, college, or university that provides classroom, dormitory, or dining facilities.
Mall
(obsolete) An alley where the game of pall mall was played.
Hall
A large room in such a building.
Mall
A public walk; a level shaded walk, a promenade.
Hall
The group of students using such a building
The entire hall stayed up late studying.
Mall
A heavy wooden mallet or hammer used in the game of pall mall.
Hall
Chiefly British A meal served in such a building.
Mall
(obsolete) The game of polo.
Hall
The main house on a landed estate.
Mall
(obsolete) An old game played with malls or mallets and balls; pall mall.
Hall
The castle or house of a medieval monarch or noble.
Mall
To beat with a mall, or mallet; to beat with something heavy; to bruise
Hall
The principal room in such a castle or house, used for dining, entertaining, and sleeping.
Mall
To build up with the development of shopping malls
Hall
A corridor; a hallway.
The drinking fountain was out in the hall.
Mall
(informal) to shop at the mall
Hall
A meeting room.
The hotel had three halls for conferences, and two were in use by the convention.
Mall
A large heavy wooden beetle; a mallet for driving anything with force; a maul.
Hall
A manor house (originally because a magistrate's court was held in the hall of his mansion).
The duke lived in a great hall overlooking the sea.
Mall
A heavy blow.
Hall
A building providing student accommodation at a university.
The student government hosted several social events so that students from different halls would intermingle.
Mall
An old game played with malls or mallets and balls. See Pall-mall.
Hall
The principal room of a secular medieval building.
Mall
A place where the game of mall was played. Hence: A public walk; a level shaded walk.
Part of the area was laid out in gravel walks, and planted with elms; and these convenient and frequented walks obtained the name of the City Mall.
Hall
(obsolete) Cleared passageway through a crowd, as for dancing.
Mall
Formerly, among Teutonic nations, a meeting of the notables of a state for the transaction of public business, such meeting being a modification of the ancient popular assembly.
Councils, which had been as frequent as diets or malls, ceased.
Hall
A place for special professional education, or for conferring professional degrees or licences.
A Divinity Hall; Apothecaries' Hall
Mall
A public access area containing a promenade for pedestrians; as, to gather near the Washington monument on the mall in Washington.
Hall
(India) A living room.
Mall
The paved or grassy strip between two roadways.
Hall
(Oxbridge) A college's canteen, which is often but not always coterminous with a traditional hall.
Mall
A shopping area with multiple shops and a concourse for predominantly or exclusively pedestrian use; in cities the concourse is usually a city street which may be temporarily or permamently closed to motor vehicles; in suburban areas, a mall is often located on a convenient highway, may be large, contained in one building or in multiple buildings connected by (usually covered) walkways. Also called shopping mall
Hall
(Oxbridge slang) A meal served and eaten at a college's hall.
Mall
To beat with a mall; to beat with something heavy; to bruise; to maul.
Hall
A building or room of considerable size and stateliness, used for public purposes; as, Westminster Hall, in London.
Mall
A public area set aside as a pedestrian walk
Hall
The chief room in a castle or manor house, and in early times the only public room, serving as the place of gathering for the lord's family with the retainers and servants, also for cooking and eating. It was often contrasted with the bower, which was the private or sleeping apartment.
Full sooty was her bower and eke her hall.
Mall
Mercantile establishment consisting of a carefully landscaped complex of shops representing leading merchandisers; usually includes restaurants and a convenient parking area; a modern version of the traditional marketplace;
A good plaza should have a movie house
They spent their weekends at the local malls
Hall
A vestibule, entrance room, etc., in the more elaborated buildings of later times.
Hall
A name given to many manor houses because the magistrate's court was held in the hall of his mansion; a chief mansion house.
Hall
A college in an English university (at Oxford, an unendowed college).
Hall
The apartment in which English university students dine in common; hence, the dinner itself; as, hall is at six o'clock.
Hall
Cleared passageway in a crowd; - formerly an exclamation.
Hall
An interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open;
The elevators were at the end of the hall
Hall
A large entrance or reception room or area
Hall
A large room for gatherings or entertainment;
Lecture hall
Pool hall
Hall
A college or university building containing living quarters for students
Hall
The large room of a manor or castle
Hall
English writer whose novel about a lesbian relationship was banned in Britain for many years (1883-1943)
Hall
United States child psychologist whose theories of child psychology strongly influenced educational psychology (1844-1924)
Hall
United States chemist who developed an economical method of producing aluminum from bauxite (1863-1914)
Hall
United States explorer who led three expeditions to the Arctic (1821-1871)
Hall
United States astronomer who discovered Phobos and Deimos (the two satellites of Mars) (1829-1907)
Hall
A large and imposing house
Hall
A large building used by a college or university for teaching or research;
Halls of learning
Hall
A large building for meetings or entertainment
Common Curiosities
What is the significance of halls in communities?
Halls often have cultural or educational significance, hosting community events.
What can you find in a mall?
In a mall, you can find retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Can halls be found in residential buildings?
Yes, halls can be corridors or passageways in residential buildings.
What is a hall used for?
A hall is used for gatherings such as meetings, events, and performances.
Are halls available for public use?
Halls are generally available for rent or booking for specific events.
What distinguishes a mall from a simple shopping center?
Malls are larger and offer more diverse amenities, including entertainment.
How does the purpose of a hall differ from a mall?
A hall is primarily for gatherings and events, while a mall is for shopping and entertainment.
Can halls be used for educational purposes?
Yes, halls are often used for lectures, seminars, and educational events.
How do malls contribute to the economy?
Malls serve as commerce hubs, facilitating shopping and social interactions.
Is the design of a mall more complex than a hall?
Yes, malls have complex designs with multiple stores and entertainment facilities.
What makes malls a popular destination for people?
Malls offer a variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment options in one place.
Do malls have a cultural significance?
Malls reflect contemporary consumer culture and social trends.
How are halls and malls similar?
Both can serve as venues for social gatherings, albeit in different contexts.
Do malls operate year-round?
Yes, malls are typically open to the public most days of the year.
Can anyone rent a hall for an event?
Generally, yes, though availability and policies may vary by venue.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
