ˈriːˌteɪl
: the business of selling things directly to customers for their own use
She has a job in retail.
: relating to the business of selling things directly to customers for their own use
a retail establishment/shop/store
the manufacturer's suggested retail price [=the price of something when it is sold to the final customer]
Is that price retail or wholesale?
: in a store that sells things directly to customers for their own use : from a retailer
You usually have to pay more if you buy something retail than if you buy it wholesale.
The product sells retail for about $100.
retails; retailed; retailing
1
: to sell (something) to customers for their own use
We retail clothing at the best possible prices.
2
: to be sold to the final customer for a specified price
jewelry that retails from $100
—often + atThe item retails at $59.
3
formal
: to tell (something) to one person after another : to tell (something) again
retailing [=retelling] gossip
Cite this Entry
“Retail.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/retail. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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