Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for wholesaler. Search instead for wholesale vendors.
Synonyms

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.


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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing wholesaler

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Alderney Electricity is the main wholesaler for the island's fuel, which is shipped from the UK via Guernsey.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

That is, until a tiny French beverage wholesaler joined the conversation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

Tesla is in a legal battle with French beverage wholesaler Unibev over the “Cybercab” trademark, potentially curtailing its international marketing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 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

Her father, Charles Ford, was a produce wholesaler.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell