Retailer
/ˈriːteɪlər/
Definitions
A person or business that sells goods to the public in relatively small quantities for use or consumption rather than for resale.
/ˈriːteɪlər/
A business that sells goods to the public
The department store is a major retailer in the city.
💡 Simply: Imagine a store you go to buy clothes, food, or toys. That store, or the company that owns it, is a retailer! They buy the goods from manufacturers and sell them to you.
👶 For kids: A retailer is a shop or store that sells things to people.
More Examples
The online retailer offers a wide selection of products.
Small retailers often struggle to compete with larger chains.
How It's Used
"The retailer offered a special discount on all products."
"Changes in consumer spending directly impact retailers."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
From Middle French *retaillier* 'to cut off, trim', from *re-* 'again' + *taillier* 'to cut', reflecting the practice of cutting and selling goods in smaller pieces. The use as a noun referring to a seller of goods dates back to the late 18th century.
The term 'retailer' became widely used with the growth of consumerism and large-scale distribution networks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Memory tip
Think of a *tailor* who *re-*cuts fabric for individual customers – a retailer provides goods to end-users.
Word Origin
"to cut off, trim (re + tailler)"