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

Dior’s reputation has been tarnished by reports last month that some of its products were made in sweatshop-like conditions and that some of its bags cost just 53 euros to assemble, while retailing in the region of 2,600 euros. —Joelle Diderich, WWD, 17 July 2024

The piece originally retailed for $188,000 but can cost as much as $400,000 on the secondary market. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 July 2024

Noun

Another 4,500 employees in the same bargaining group work at the Downtown Disney retail and dining district, the Disney hotels, or the resort’s other theme park, Disney California Adventure. —Natasha Chen, CNN, 19 July 2024

Morgan Stanley’s names Gap among its most preferred retail picks Gap’s earnings momentum is not going away soon, according to Morgan Stanley. —Pia Singh,fred Imbert, CNBC, 18 July 2024

Adjective

Consumers, who power about two-thirds of the $28.3 trillion American economy, have been resilient as retail sales have climbed 2.3% over the past year, according to numbers adjusted for seasonality but not inflation. —Jeff Cox, CNBC, 22 July 2024

Advertisement Buttigieg has served as Transportation secretary under Biden and is valued by Democrats as a nimble and charismatic retail politician, with sharp debating skills. —James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2024

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

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