wholesale

6 synonyms and 1 antonym for wholesale, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The sale of goods in large quantities, typically to retailers rather than to individual customers.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

bulk mass extensive

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

sweeping

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

wide-ranging indiscriminate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

The sale of goods in large quantities, typically to retailers rather than to individual customers.

“The warehouse deals only in wholesale, not retail.”

bulk sweeping wide-ranging indiscriminate mass extensive

Opposites

retail

2. adj

Done on a large, sweeping scale, often without much care or discrimination.

“The new manager made wholesale changes to the way the team worked.”

sweeping

3. verb

To sell goods in bulk to retailers rather than directly to consumers.

“He wholesales fruit to cafes and small grocers across the town.”

Opposites

retail

How to use wholesale

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

wholesale price wholesale changes buy wholesale

Etymology

From whole plus sale — literally "selling as a whole" (in bulk) rather than piece by piece.

Full origin of wholesale →

Frequently asked questions

What does “wholesale” mean?

The word “wholesale” means the sale of goods in large quantities, typically to retailers rather than to individual customers. In plain terms, buying or selling in bulk; or, more broadly, doing something on a large, sweeping scale.

How do you pronounce “wholesale”?

“Wholesale” is pronounced HOHL-sayl (/ˈhoʊlseɪl/ in IPA).

How do you use “wholesale” in a sentence?

Here is “wholesale” used in a sentence: “The warehouse deals only in wholesale, not retail.”

What is the opposite of “wholesale”?

The opposite of “wholesale” — its antonyms — is retail.

What part of speech is “wholesale”?

Depending on how it is used, “wholesale” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.

Is “wholesale” a common word?

“Wholesale” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “wholesale” have?

“Wholesale” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the sale of goods in large quantities, typically to retailers rather than to individual customers.

What is the difference between "wholesale" and "retail"?

Wholesale refers to selling goods in large quantities, usually to retailers or businesses rather than to the public. Retail is the opposite end of the chain: selling individual items directly to consumers, typically at a higher price per unit.

When should you use "wholesale" instead of "bulk"?

Both relate to large quantities, but "wholesale" specifically refers to selling goods to retailers rather than consumers, and often implies a trade price. "Bulk" simply means a large amount and does not by itself indicate who the buyer is or how the goods are priced.

What are common collocations with "wholesale"?

In its business sense, "wholesale" often pairs with words like "price," "market," "supplier," and "distribution." In its figurative sense, it commonly appears in phrases such as "wholesale changes" and "wholesale adoption."

People also searched

mass extensive retail bulk sweeping indiscriminate

Nearby words

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