dealer

American  

[dee-ler] / ˈdi lər /

noun

1. a person who buys and sells articles without altering their condition; trader or merchant, especially a wholesaler.

   I got a dealer's discount on this coat.

2. Cards. the player distributing the cards.

3. a person who behaves or acts toward another or others in a specified manner.

   a plain dealer.

4. Slang. a person who buys and sells drugs illegally.

5. a person who buys securities for their own account and retains them until sold to another.

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dealer British  

/ ˈdiːlə /

noun

1. a person or firm engaged in commercial purchase and sale; trader

   a car dealer

2. cards the person who distributes the cards

3. slang a person who sells illegal drugs

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Other Word Forms

• dealership noun
• predealer noun
• subdealer noun

Etymology

Origin of dealer

First recorded before 1000; Middle English delere, Old English dǣlere. See deal ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

The trucks, designed and built in the U.S. for American buyers, are exactly what Volkswagen dealers have spent years clamoring for.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many of the recalls involve a trip to the dealer to update software or have parts inspected.

From Barron's

Judge Iain Pester has now agreed to issue an order to force an art dealer to disclose details of his trades with the unnamed intermediary.

From BBC

“Overall, we expect that dealers will continue to prudently manage inventories until a market inflection dictates a change in course as the upcoming spring selling season gets under way.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Car buyers spent over $26 billion on destination charges in 2025, a fee some dealers say is a less transparent price increase.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• banker
• merchant
• retailer
• trader
• trafficker
• vendor
• wholesaler