wholesale
HOHL-seyl
/ˈhoʊlseɪl/
The selling of goods in large quantities to be retailed by others.
Often used to describe buying directly from a distributor at a much lower price than a retail store.
The story behind the word. Literally 'selling by the whole' (the entire piece or large quantity) rather than in small, broken-up parts. It dates back to the 15th century when merchants would buy entire shipments to distribute to smaller shops.
Word relationships
- bulk-selling: A more descriptive term for the same process.
- retail: The sale of goods to the public in relatively small quantities for use or consumption.
Commonly confused with
- bulk: 'Bulk' is the quantity; 'wholesale' is the commercial relationship (selling to a retailer).
Word family
- wholesaler (noun): A person or company that sells goods in large quantities at low prices.
Collocations
- wholesale price
- wholesale club
- wholesale trade
Example sentences
- "The boutique buys its clothing wholesale from a manufacturer in Italy." Business
- "The government made wholesale changes to the tax system. (Meaning extensive/complete)" General Usage
Memory hook
Wholesale is selling the 'whole' thing at once. Wholesale: The whole lot for a smaller price.
When not to use
Do not use 'wholesale' if you are buying a single item, even if it's cheap.
Fun facts
- Wholesale clubs like Costco make most of their profit from membership fees rather than the markup on products.
- The word 'wholesale' can also be used as an adverb meaning 'on a large scale' or 'without discrimination'.
Explore more words
barter, trafficking, distribution, warehousing, cartel, broker
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