bestseller

American  

[best-sel-er] / ˈbɛstˈsɛl ər /

Or best seller

noun

1. a book that is among those having the largest sales during a given period.

2. any product that among those of its kind is selling particularly well at a given time.

   This car was a bestseller last year.

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bestseller British  

/ ˌbɛstˈsɛlə /

noun

1. a book, record, CD, or other product that has sold in great numbers, esp over a short period

2. the author of one or more such books, etc

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Other Word Forms

• best-selling adjective
• bestsellerdom noun
• bestselling adjective

Etymology

Origin of bestseller

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; best + seller

Example Sentences

The book sits atop the New York Times paperback trade fiction bestseller list dated April 12, and has been on the list since last summer—around the time the movie’s trailer was released.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

An instant bestseller, “Strangers” has struck a chord with readers, married and divorced alike, who recognize the danger signs in Burden’s love story.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Sam, when he was 1 year old, was the subject of his mom’s first bestseller, the 1993 memoir “Operating Instructions.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Meanwhile, the cover of “The Behavior Gap,” his 2012 bestseller, features a roller-coaster line showing the ups and downs of greed and fear.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

The first bestseller list on which Ya-Ya Sisterhood appeared was the Northern California Independent Bookseller’s list.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell