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

/ ˈriːteɪl /

noun

1. the sale of goods individually or in small quantities to consumers Compare wholesale

adjective

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

   retail prices

adverb

1. in small amounts or at a retail price

verb

1. to sell or be sold in small quantities to consumers
2. rɪˈteɪl tr to relate (gossip, scandal, etc) in detail, esp persistently

retail

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

Derived Forms

• ˈretailer, noun

Other Words From

• retail·er noun
• non·retail adjective
• non·retail·er noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of retail¹

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

Example Sentences

"The reality is that it's likely that some of the cost of a new tariff will make its way into our retail prices"

From Salon

In an interview from 2011 with the Independent, Reeves is described as working for HBOS' retail division, after her job as an economist at the Bank of England.

From BBC

The boss of luxury retail company Mulberry says he needs to "rebuild the business", after sales dropped by almost a fifth in the past six months.

From BBC

Analysts have recently cautioned that Walmart’s success does not necessarily mean the rest of the retail industry will see similarly strong sales.

From New York Times

How, then, did she vote on California’s Proposition 36, which would recriminalize retail theft and some drug offenses?

From Salon

Related Words

• peddle

More About Retail

What 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 … ?

What are some other forms related to retail?

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

What are some synonyms for retail?

• sell
• peddle

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

• retail therapy
• retail politics
• e-tail

What are some words that often get used in discussing retail?

• price
• product
• sell
• store
• suggested
• wholesale

How is retail used in real life?

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

// depends on the job and the season: retail during the holidays? Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy… waterpark during the summer? pic.twitter.com/jj6HNxarTI

— 𝕰𝖑𝖘𝖆 𝕾𝖈𝖍𝖓𝖊𝖊 ❄ (RWBY AU) (@SpiritoftheIce) October 14, 2021

Sending love to everyone working retail and customer service today.

People out there acting like y’all are the reason they waited til the absolute last moment to do their Christmas shopping.

— Philip DeFranco 👊🏻 (@PhillyD) December 24, 2019

 

https://twitter.com/beckyjewell/status/1448706749435826181

Try using retail!

Is retail used correctly in the following sentence?

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