noun
Common
wholesale
HOHL-sayl
Wholesale (noun) means the sale of goods in large quantities, typically to retailers rather than to individual customers. Example: “The warehouse deals only in wholesale, not retail.”
noun
1
The sale of goods in large quantities, typically to retailers rather than to individual customers.
"The warehouse deals only in wholesale, not retail."
adj
1
Done on a large, sweeping scale, often without much care or discrimination.
"The new manager made wholesale changes to the way the team worked."
"The storm caused wholesale damage to the crops across the valley."
"The policy led to wholesale changes across the entire department."
verb
1
To sell goods in bulk to retailers rather than directly to consumers.
"He wholesales fruit to cafes and small grocers across the town."
"Our bakery also wholesales bread to several local shops."
"The farm wholesales its produce to supermarkets across the region."
How to use wholesale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBuying or selling in bulk; or, more broadly, doing something on a large, sweeping scale.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
wholesale price
wholesale changes
buy wholesale
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Word forms
- Plural
- wholesales
- Third person singular
- wholesales
- Past tense
- wholesaled
- Comparative
- more wholesale
- Superlative
- most wholesale
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The warehouse deals only in _____, not retail.
Etymology
From whole plus sale — literally "selling as a whole" (in bulk) rather than piece by piece.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for wholesale
See all rhymes for 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."
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