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View synonyms for

retail

[ ree-teyl ri-teyl ]

noun

  1. the sale of goods to ultimate consumers, usually in small quantities ( wholesale ).


adjective

  1. pertaining to, connected with, or engaged in sale at retail:

    the retail price.

adverb

  1. in a retail quantity or at a retail price.

verb (used with object)

  1. to sell at retail; sell directly to the consumer.
  2. to relate or repeat in detail to others:

    to retail scandal.

verb (used without object)

  1. to be sold at retail:

    It retails at 50 cents.

retail

/ ˈːٱɪ /

noun

  1. the sale of goods individually or in small quantities to consumers Compare wholesale
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or engaged in such selling

    retail prices

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. in small amounts or at a retail price
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to sell or be sold in small quantities to consumers
  2. ɪˈٱɪ tr to relate (gossip, scandal, etc) in detail, esp persistently
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

retail

  1. A term describing businesses that sell goods directly to individuals. ( Compare wholesale .)
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٲ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • t· noun
  • ԴDz·t adjective
  • non·t· noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of retail1

First recorded in 1375–1425; (for the noun) late Middle English, from Anglo-French: “a cut,” derivative of retailler “to cut,” from re- re- + tailler “to cut” ( tail 2 ); (for the verb) Middle English retailen, from Old French retailler
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Word History and Origins

Origin of retail1

C14: from Old French retaillier to cut off, from re- + taillier to cut; see tailor
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Rasmussen said that the Canadian equivalent to the USDA, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, continues to test both retail and tank milk and has not found any positives in the country.

From

The biggest concern among retail HR directors is that this risks making it much harder to offer people part-time jobs, according to a BRC survey.

From

The retail giant has paused orders on its website and apps since Friday as it attempts to restore operations.

From

He's never been tested in a gruelling federal election campaign, with its relentless travel, high-pressure demands for retail politics and daily media scrutiny.

From

Ms Winship, who works in retail, has been told she will recover, but that it would be "a long-term thing" and that she was facing "months" using a wheelchair.

From

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More About Retail

does retail mean?

Retail is the sale of goods to the person who will actually use the goods. It is often used to describe the consumer goods industry, as in Jade worked in retail over the summer break to earn money for school.

Retail is also used to describe something related to sales at retail, as in While the wholesale price is low, the retail price is much higher because the store’s rent is also very high.

To retail is to sell directly to the consumer or to be sold at retail.

Example: The retail store down the road has a sale on all sorts of good stuff today.

Where does retail come from?

The first records of the term retail come from around 1375. It ultimately comes from the Old French retailler, meaning “to cut.” Because retail is selling to an individual user, the seller is selling a cut of the goods they bought in bulk, that is, at wholesale.

Retail is most commonly used in reference to stores, often those that are large and sell many types of retail items. Retail can also describe a price, such as the price that something would sell at a retail store. Retail almost always refers to the sale of goods. When shopping online first became possible, many people used e-tail as a way to describe “electronic retail.” E-tail is not commonly used anymore.

Did you know … ?

are some other forms related to retail?

  • retailer (noun)
  • nonretail (adjective)
  • retailing (noun)

are some synonyms for retail?

are some words that share a root or word element with retail?

are some words that often get used in discussing retail?

How is retail used in real life?

Retail is commonly used in business to refer to selling directly to the consumer.

Try using retail!

Is retail used correctly in the following sentence?

A device with those components would retail for about $500.

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retableretailing