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

• deal (in)
• market
• merchandise
• merchandize
• put up
• sell
• vend

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

Currently retailing for $14.99, the grade A amber syrup is 100% pure maple syrup that gets tapped in Canada (specifically maple trees in Quebec) between March and April. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 20 June 2025

About Trump Mobile's T1 phone: price, pics, features The Trump Mobile phone, called the T1 Phone, will retail for $499 with a down payment of $100. —Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 19 June 2025

Noun

He's expanded into apparel (Push Trees) and cannabis-friendly retail (The Dopest Shop), turning personal anecdotes and raw honesty into a multi-platform brand. —Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025

Sakara had previously been available via Sephora online with select products, but this launch is a moment for the brand to stake its claim in retail at the intersection of beauty and wellness. —Emily Burns, Footwear News, 23 June 2025

Adjective

The three-story food hall, which opened in 2023, has now moved all of its vendors from the third floor, making way for Magic City Collective, a new retail experience from the team behind Magic City Flea. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025

Amazon: Somehow, all three of its main businesses — retail, cloud and advertising — are firing on all cylinders and yet the stock is down 3% for the year. —Kevin Stankiewicz,morgan Chittum, CNBC, 25 June 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