wholesale
HOHL-seyl
/ˈhoʊl.seɪl/
The selling of goods in large quantities to be retailed by others; on a large scale.
Implies lower prices because of the high volume and lack of individual packaging/service.
The story behind the word. In the 14th century, this meant selling things by the 'whole' piece—for example, an entire roll of cloth—rather than cutting it into smaller pieces for 'retail' (which comes from the French word for 'cutting back').
Word relationships
- bulk-selling: Bulk-selling is a more descriptive, less formal term for the same concept.
- retail: The sale of goods to the public in relatively small quantities for use or consumption.
Commonly confused with
- bulk: Wholesale is the business model; bulk is the physical quantity.
Word family
- wholesaler (noun): A person or company that sells goods in large quantities.
Collocations
- wholesale price
- wholesale distributor
- buy wholesale
Example sentences
- "The wholesale price of the article is much lower than the retail price." An economic principle from a classic text.
- "They buy their supplies wholesale to keep their overhead costs low." Describing a business model.
Memory hook
You sell the 'whole' lot in one 'sale'. Selling the whole lot.
When not to use
Don't use for small, individual purchases at a standard store.
Fun facts
- The word 'wholesale' is also used figuratively to mean 'extensive' or 'indiscriminate,' such as 'wholesale changes' in a company.
Explore more words
barter, trafficking, distribution, warehousing, cartel, broker
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