sales representative

noun

1. a person or organization designated by a company to solicit business on its behalf in a specified territory or foreign country.

   I suggest you contact our Chicago sales representative.

2. traveling salesman.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sales representative¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Related Words

• clerk 

When To Use

What does sales representative mean?

A sales representative is a person whose job is to sell products or services for a company, often in a particular area.The short form sales rep is much more commonly used. Sales representatives always work for (represent) a company—whereas a salesperson may be selling their own products. However, the two terms are often used synonymously.The terms salesman and saleswoman are still commonly used, but salesperson, sales representative, and sales rep are often used in their place.A sales representative is often said to “work in sales”—in which sales refers to the type of occupation or the division or department within a company.A sales representative can sell directly to customers or to other businesses or organizations. Sometimes, sales representatives sell things in person, such as at a retail store or dealership. They also commonly sell things over the phone or by communicating with people online. In the past, it was common for some sales representatives to travel door-to-door to make sales to people at home.Sales representative is sometimes used as another term for traveling salesperson—a salesperson who has to travel as part of their job.The word salesperson is sometimes used in a somewhat figurative way to refer to someone who’s skilled at persuading people, especially in a business or professional setting, as if they are selling them a product. However, the term sales representative is not used in this way.Example: The sales representative told me that this was the best deal he could give me.