wholesale

American  

[hohl-seyl] / ˈhoʊlˌseɪl /

noun

1. the sale of goods in quantity, as to retailers or jobbers, for resale (retail ).

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or engaged in sale by wholesale.

2. extensive; broadly indiscriminate.

   wholesale discharge of workers.

   Synonyms:

   promiscuous, undiscriminating, inclusive, thorough, comprehensive, far-reaching

adverb

1. in a wholesale way; on wholesale terms.

   I can get it for you wholesale.

2. in large quantities; on a large scale, especially without discrimination.

   Wild horses were slaughtered wholesale.

verb (used with or without object)

wholesaled, wholesaling

1. to sell by wholesale.

wholesale British  

/ ˈhəʊlˌseɪl /

noun

1. the business of selling goods to retailers in larger quantities than they are sold to final consumers but in smaller quantities than they are purchased from manufacturers Compare retail

2. 1. in large quantities

   2. at wholesale prices

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or engaged in such business

2. made, done, etc, on a large scale or without discrimination

adverb

1. on a large scale or without discrimination

verb

1. to sell (goods) at wholesale

wholesale Cultural  

1. The sale of merchandise to retailers rather than directly to the public.

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Other Word Forms

• wholesaler noun

Etymology

Origin of wholesale

1375–1425; late Middle English, from the phrase by hole sale in gross; whole, sale

Example Sentences

“All of this comes together to create a market that is not screaming that it is at a top or triggering us, in our shop, to be bailing out of equities wholesale,” Buchanan said.

From MarketWatch

Total wholesale of cars is expected to fall 4%-8%, partly offset by estimated export growth of 10%-15%.

From The Wall Street Journal

Less than 30 hours later, the dust settled on a mind-boggling stretch that confirmed a wholesale changing of the guard.

From The Wall Street Journal

That led some to speculate on social media that a fire at wholesale chemical distributor Primazol's warehouses in Maracaibo may have been related to the attack.

From Barron's

There are also signs of lower wholesale costs, paid by suppliers.

From BBC

Related Words

• extensive
• indiscriminate
• large-scale
• sweeping