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• sale
  sale

  noun

  the act of selling.
• Sale
  Sale

  noun

  a town in NW England, in Trafford unitary authority, Greater Manchester: a residential suburb of Manchester. Pop: 55 234 (2001)
• Salé
  Salé

  noun

  a port in NW Morocco, on the Atlantic adjoining Rabat. Pop: 880 000 (2003)

sale

American  

[seyl] / seɪl /

noun

1. the act of selling.

2. a quantity sold.

3. opportunity to sell; demand.

   slow sale.

4. a special disposal of goods, as at reduced prices.

5. transfer of property for money or credit.

6. an auction.

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idioms

1. on sale, able to be bought at reduced prices.

2. for sale, offered to be sold; made available to purchasers.

sale ¹ British  

/ seɪl /

noun

1. the exchange of goods, property, or services for an agreed sum of money or credit

2. the amount sold

3. the opportunity to sell; market

   there was no sale for luxuries

4. the rate of selling or being sold

   a slow sale of synthetic fabrics

5. 1. an event at which goods are sold at reduced prices, usually to clear old stocks

   2. ( as modifier )

      sale bargains

6. an auction

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Sale ² British  

/ seɪl /

noun

1. a town in NW England, in Trafford unitary authority, Greater Manchester: a residential suburb of Manchester. Pop: 55 234 (2001)

2. a city in SE Australia, in SE Victoria: centre of an agricultural region. Pop: 12 854 (2001)

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Salé ³ British  

/ sale /

noun

1. a port in NW Morocco, on the Atlantic adjoining Rabat. Pop: 880 000 (2003)

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sale More Idioms  

1. see close the sale; on sale; white sale.

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Other Word Forms

• intersale noun
• nonsale noun
• subsale noun

Etymology

Origin of sale

First recorded before 1050; Middle English; late Old English sala; cognate with Old Norse, Old High German sala; cf. sell ¹

Explanation

A sale is what occurs whenever an object or service is given in return for a payment of money. The sale of your old bike will happen more quickly if you price it at $50 instead of $500. You can talk about the sale of your next door neighbor's house, and you can also describe the house as "for sale," or available to be purchased. When a store has a sale, it means goods temporarily cost less than usual — you can also say that things at that store are "on sale." The word sale comes from the Old English sala, from a Germanic root.

Example Sentences

Yet the taxable value of a home typically resets at the time of a sale.

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

“Higher than expected consumer demand for our products, as evidenced by improving point of sale and share trends, was driven by continued investment in innovation, advertising and promotional support,” said Chief Executive Chris Peterson.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Called Market Market: Message Market, the sale will feature past season Comme des Garçons collections and Dover Street Market favorites with discounts of up to 70% off.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Having just found a place to rent on his own, he says the city needs "more places for people to rent, more homes to be on sale, more places to be built".

From BBC • May 1, 2026

She and Baba keep buying them whenever they’re on sale.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan

Related Words

• auction
• business
• buying
• deal
• demand
• marketing
• purchase
• reduction
• selling
• trade
• transaction