Wholesale
/ˈhoʊlseɪl/
Definitions
4 meaningsThe sale of goods in large quantities at reduced prices to be resold by retailers.
/ˈhoʊlseɪl/
The selling of goods in large quantities to be retailed by others.
The store buys its products at wholesale prices to maximize its profit margin.
💡 Simply: Imagine a candy factory selling a *whole* bunch of chocolate bars to your local store instead of selling them one-by-one to individual kids. That's wholesale! The store then sells the candy to you.
👶 For kids: Selling lots of things to stores at one time.
More Examples
They purchase goods through wholesale markets to reduce costs.
How It's Used
"The company operates primarily on a wholesale basis."
Relating to the sale of goods in large quantities to retailers for resale.
/ˈhoʊlseɪl/
Relating to the selling of goods in large quantities at reduced prices.
The company offers wholesale discounts for bulk purchases.
💡 Simply: Wholesale prices are like getting a discount for buying a ton of something. It's cheaper than buying just one or two.
👶 For kids: When something is sold in big amounts at a lower price.
More Examples
They specialize in the wholesale distribution of imported goods.
How It's Used
"They offer wholesale prices to their regular clients."
To a large extent; in a comprehensive or indiscriminate manner.
/ˈhoʊlseɪl/
On a wholesale basis.
The company operates wholesale, distributing goods to various retailers.
💡 Simply: Think of it like buying and selling things in bulk, not just a little bit at a time.
👶 For kids: Doing things in a big way, like selling a lot of things to stores.
More Examples
The firm trades wholesale and retail.
How It's Used
"The company buys and sells wholesale."
To sell goods to retailers in large quantities, typically at a reduced price compared to retail.
/ˈhoʊlseɪl/
To sell goods in large quantities to retailers.
The manufacturer wholesales its goods to distributors.
💡 Simply: When a company 'wholesales' something, it's like they're selling a bunch of their stuff to a bunch of stores, who then sell it to you.
👶 For kids: To sell many things to stores at the same time.
More Examples
The business wholesales its products to independent shops.
How It's Used
"The company wholesales its products to various stores."
Synonyms
Resale
Bulk
Extensive
Extensively
Largely
Distribute
Supply
Idioms & expressions
wholesale price
The price at which a wholesaler sells goods to retailers.
"They offer goods at wholesale price."
wholesale market
A market where goods are sold in bulk to retailers.
"They buy their supplies from a wholesale market."
From 'whole' + 'sale'. Originating in the 15th century, it originally referred to the sale of goods in large quantities to retailers for resale.
Used since the mid-15th century, originally referring to large-scale trading practices.
Memory tip
Think of the entire 'whole' lot being sold, not just a single item.