sale

The word “sale” means the act of exchanging goods or services for money. In plain terms, selling something, or a temporary discount event where items are sold cheaper than usual.

“Sale” is pronounced sehl (/seːl/ in IPA).

Here is “sale” used in a sentence: “The sale of the house went through last week.”

Words with a similar meaning to “sale” include vend and vent.

The opposite of “sale” — its antonyms — is purchase.

“Sale” is a noun.

The word “sale” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse sala, "sale," related to the verb "to sell.".

“Sale” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

A sale is the basic act of exchanging goods or services for money, so any purchase counts as one. Informally, 'a sale' also means a period when a shop cuts prices to attract buyers. A discount is the price reduction itself — the sale event offers discounts, but the two words are not identical.

Sell is the verb — the action of giving something in exchange for money. Sale is the noun — the event or transaction that results. You sell a car, and the deal is called a sale. A common error is writing 'for sell'; the correct phrase is 'for sale'.

In business, a sale can be retail, where a shop sells directly to a customer, or wholesale, where goods are sold in bulk to resellers. Sales can be one-time or recurring, cash or credit. In shops, 'a sale' can also mean a clearance, seasonal, or promotional event with reduced prices.