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)

retails, present (3rd person singular) retailed, past participle, past retailing present participle

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)

retails, present (3rd person singular) retailed, past participle, past retailing present participle

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

Derived Forms

• retailer
  noun
• nonretailer
  noun
• nonretail
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have retailed
  perfect
• has retailed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been retailing
  perfect progressive
• has been retailing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is retailing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• retails
  singular 3rd person
• am retailing
  progressive 1st person singular
• are retailing
  progressive
• retailing
  participle

Past

• had retailed
  perfect
• was retailing
  progressive singular
• retailed
  participle
• had been retailing
  perfect progressive
• retailed
  simple
• were retailing
  progressive plural

Future

• will retail
  simple
• will have retailed
  perfect
• will be retailing
  progressive
• will have been retailing
  perfect progressive

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

“I’m a huge fan of small retail investors,” he wrote in a 2020 tweet about a potential public offering of SpaceX or its Starlink business.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

“It’s just the perfect storm for exorbitant retail enthusiasm and demand,” said Mike Treacy, head market analyst and vice president of risk at Apex Fintech Solutions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

The retail ‘ants’ at the wheel are driving dangerously.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

They created ready-to-wear suits, opened retail stores and created a reputation for unparalleled craftsmanship at a far lower price point than the tailors of Savile Row.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

I said, and recognized at once that I was on the brink of a dangerous condition known as retail burnout.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• peddle