wholesaler

American  

[hohl-sayl-er] / ˈhoʊlˌseɪl ər /

noun

1. a business that sells products primarily to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and other client companies rather than to end-use consumers, usually for less than the retail price.

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Explanation

A wholesaler is a person or business that sells items to retail stores, which then sell them to individual customers for a higher price. You could also call a wholesaler a distributor. Anyone who sells goods to other businesses, rather than directly to customers, is a wholesaler. The bookshop in your town and the big-box store in a strip mall are both retailers; they buy goods from wholesalers, who sell them large quantities of books or patio furniture, etc., to be resold to individual shoppers.

Example Sentences

“To have a wholesaler like VW support and back this direct-to-sale philosophy—changing the way that it’s operated for generations—is what’s creating this uproar,” said Dave Cantin, who runs an automotive M&A firm.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

The San Diego County Water Authority serves as a wholesaler, delivering water to 22 cities and other agencies that serve 3.3 million people.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

Twelve kilometers from the hotel zone, crossing empty streets with minimal traffic, residents in the well-off neighborhood of Fluvial Vallarta wandered through the parking lot of a Costco wholesaler.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

Looking back at the case which dominated his career, retired Det Supt Alan Smith says fruit and veg wholesaler Fraser was a jack-the-lad with no shortage of friends in the Moray town.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

Her father, Charles Ford, was a produce wholesaler.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• broker
• dealer
• exporter
• operator
• retailer
• seller
• shipper
• shopkeeper
• trader
• trafficker
• vendor