retail

American  

[ree-teyl, ri-teyl] / ˈri teɪl, rɪˈteɪl /

noun

1. the sale of goods to ultimate consumers, usually in small quantities (opposed to wholesale).

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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 British  

/ ˈriːteɪl /

noun

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

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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. (tr) to relate (gossip, scandal, etc) in detail, esp persistently

retail Cultural  

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

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• nonretail
  adjective
• nonretailer
  noun
• retailer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of retail

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” ( see tail ²); (for the verb) Middle English retailen, from Old French retailler

Explanation

If you buy a pair of jeans at your neighborhood Chique Boutique, you’re buying retail, but if you go to China and buy a boatload of jeans directly from the manufacturer, you’re buying wholesale, which is the opposite of retail. If you make your living growing flowers, you may have a retail shop where you sell to people buying flowers for themselves, and you may also have a wholesale business, where you sell flowers to florists and supermarkets who sell your flowers to their customers. As you have probably figured out, the retail shops — the florists and supermarkets — add their own markup to the wholesale price you charge them, so they can make a profit, too.

Example Sentences

Nowhere is sentiment more ebullient than in the options market, where volumes have surged, driven in large part by the bullish short-term bets of retail investors.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

That structure has led to colorful campaigns to sway institutional and retail shareholders alike during the company’s annual meetings.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Another thing that could put the squeeze on retail investors: SpaceX joining the Nasdaq 100, the S&P 500, and the Russell 1000 much sooner than the typical 12- to 18-month waiting period for IPOs.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

However, retail workers were split with only a slight majority of 48% compared to 47% in favour.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

Insofar as the poor have to work near the dwellings of the rich—as in the case of so many service and retail jobs—they are stuck with lengthy commutes or dauntingly expensive housing.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Related Words

• peddle