wholesale

[ hohl-seyl ]

noun

1. the sale of goods in quantity, as to retailers or jobbers, for resale ( retail ).

adjective

1. of, relating to, or engaged in sale by wholesale.
2. extensive; broadly indiscriminate:

   wholesale discharge of workers.

   Synonyms: undiscriminating, promiscuous, inclusive, thorough, comprehensive, far-reaching

adverb

1. in a wholesale way; on wholesale terms:

   I can get it for you wholesale.

2. in large quantities; on a large scale, especially without discrimination:

   Wild horses were slaughtered wholesale.

verb (used with or without object)

, whole·saled, whole·sal·ing.

1. to sell by wholesale.

wholesale

/ ˈhəʊlˌseɪl /

noun

1. the business of selling goods to retailers in larger quantities than they are sold to final consumers but in smaller quantities than they are purchased from manufacturers Compare retail
2. at wholesale
   1. in large quantities
   2. at wholesale prices

adjective

1. of, relating to, or engaged in such business
2. made, done, etc, on a large scale or without discrimination

adverb

1. on a large scale or without discrimination

verb

1. to sell (goods) at wholesale

wholesale

1. The sale of merchandise to retailers rather than directly to the public.

Derived Forms

• ˈwholeˌsaler, noun

Other Words From

• wholesaler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wholesale¹

1375–1425; late Middle English, from the phrase by hole sale in gross; whole, sale

Example Sentences

To be sure, the election was not an embrace of the GOP platform, but it was a wholesale rejection of Barack Obama.

From The Daily Beast

In March the Colorado native, who sells wholesale farm products, decided to purchase an abandoned jail in his hometown of Brush.

From The Daily Beast

Crown was working at a company called Valley Wholesale until he was recently laid off.

From The Daily Beast

Laughing at the wholesale denial of free speech is not the voice of moderation.

From The Daily Beast

Michael Kors Sues Costco: Michael Kors is suing wholesale warehouse club Costco for false advertising.

From The Daily Beast

The money went into the pockets of the Admiralty clerks and paymasters, who thrived on wholesale and shameless peculation.

From Project Gutenberg

Again he got up and went inside, where he wrote a letter to a certain wholesale house with whom his account was large.

From Project Gutenberg

This woman was married in 1821, by Jacques Collin's sister, to the head clerk of a rich, wholesale hardware merchant.

From Project Gutenberg

This is the broadest street in London and was opened by wholesale condemnation of private property.

From Project Gutenberg

Nevertheless, the fisheries supply additional employment to processing and wholesale employees.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• extensive
• indiscriminate
• large-scale
• sweeping