resale
REE-seyl
/ˈriːseɪl/
The sale of something again, especially to a second or subsequent purchaser.
A broad, neutral business term that covers any transaction where a previously bought item is sold again, whether it is a car, a house, or a piece of clothing.
The story behind the word. Formed by combining the Latin prefix 're-' (meaning again) with the Germanic root for selling. It entered the English lexicon as commerce expanded and markets developed for used machinery, real estate, and consumer goods.
Word relationships
- second-hand sale: Second-hand sale is more colloquial, whereas resale is the standard commercial and financial term.
- primary sale: The primary sale is the first transaction of a newly manufactured or created item.
Commonly confused with
- retail: Retail is the sale of goods to the public (usually new), while resale is specifically selling an item that has already been purchased once before.
Word family
- resell (verb): To sell something that one has bought to another person.
- reseller (noun): A person or company that buys goods to sell them again.
Collocations
- resale value
- resale market
- for resale
- resale price
Example sentences
- "The vehicle holds its resale value remarkably well, even after several years of heavy use." An analysis of a car's long-term cost.
- "The platform banned the resale of concert tickets at prices higher than their original face value." A discussion on ticket scalping regulations.
Memory hook
Simply 'RE-selling' what you already bought once. Sold once, sold again.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to the initial sale of a product directly from the manufacturer to the first consumer.
Fun facts
- The global fashion resale market is growing eleven times faster than traditional retail, driven largely by Gen Z's preference for sustainable and unique clothing.
Related words
Explore more words
wholesale, Consumer, transaction, consignment, exchange, rehome
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.