retail

1 of 4

verb

re·​tail ˈrē-ˌtāl 

 especially for sense 2 also  ri-ˈtāl

retailed; retailing; retails

transitive verb

1

: to sell in small quantities directly to the ultimate consumer

2

: tell, retell

intransitive verb

: to sell at retail

retailer noun

retail

2 of 4

noun

re·​tail ˈrē-ˌtāl 

: the sale of commodities or goods in small quantities to ultimate consumers

also : the industry of such selling

retail

3 of 4

adjective

re·​tail ˈrē-ˌtāl 

: of, relating to, or engaged in the sale of commodities at retail

retail trade

retail

4 of 4

adverb

re·​tail ˈrē-ˌtāl 

: in small quantities : from a retailer

Phrases

at retail

1

: at a retailer's price

2

: retail entry 4

Synonyms

Verb

• sell
• market

Examples of retail in a Sentence

Verb

We retail clothing at the best possible prices.

jewelry that retails from $100

Noun

She has a job in retail.

Adjective

Is that price retail or wholesale?

Adverb

You usually have to pay more if you buy something retail than if you buy it wholesale.

The product sells retail for about $100.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Product launched: April 2023 Price history: This bundle usually retails for around $1699 on Walmart and $1799 on Amazon. —Harry Bennett, Space.com, 22 Aug. 2025

At its highest, rice was retailing at an average of 4,285 yen per five-kilogram bag, while premium rice brands reached 4,469 yen. —Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025

Noun

The project, The District at Ten Mile, is spearheaded by Ahlquist Development and would include dining and retail, a hotel, over 500,000 square feet of office space including medical offices, industrial space for partner Adler Industrial, and up to 400 town houses. —Marcus Dorsey, Idaho Statesman, 23 Aug. 2025

Apart from his real estate business, Villar—a former senator who ran for president in 2010—has interests in energy, media, retail, restaurants, and a water utility company. —Ian Sayson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Adjective

However, the institutional crypto market can eventually be much bigger than the retail space. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025

The building would include nearly 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. —Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 22 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French retaille cutting, deduction, retail, from retailler to cut out, from re- + tailler to cut — more at tailor

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1601, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1784, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing retail

• at retail
• retail park
• the retail price index

Rhymes for retail

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email

Kids Definition

retail

1 of 4 verb

re·​tail ˈrē-ˌtāl 

: to sell in small amounts to people for their own use

retailer noun

retail

2 of 4 noun

: the sale of products or goods in small quantities to people for their own use

retail

3 of 4 adjective

: of, relating to, or engaged in selling by retail

retail stores

retail

4 of 4 adverb

: in small quantities : from a retailer