Dictionary
1retail
verb re·tail \ˈrē-ˌtāl, especially for 2 also ri-ˈtāl\
: to sell (something) to customers for their own use
: to be sold to the final customer for a specified price
: to tell (something) to one person after another : to tell (something) again
Full Definition of RETAIL
transitive verb
1
: to sell in small quantities directly to the ultimate consumer
intransitive verb
: to sell at retail
— re·tail·er noun
See retail defined for English-language learners
See retail defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
First Known Use of RETAIL
15th century
Related to RETAIL
- Synonyms
- deal (in), merchandise (also merchandize), put up, market, sell, vend
Rhymes with RETAIL
abseil, airmail, all hail, assail, avail, bake sale, bangtail, blackmail, blacktail, bobtail, broadscale, broadtail, bucktail, bud scale, canaille, cattail, chain mail, coattail, cocktail, contrail, curtail, derail, detail, doornail, dovetail, downscale, ducktail, e-mail, entail, exhale, fan mail, fantail, female, fife rail, fire sale, fishtail, folktale, foresail, foxtail, fresh gale, full-scale, gapped scale, Glendale, gray scale, greenmail, guardrail, Hallel, handrail, hangnail, headsail, hightail, hobnail, horntail, horsetail, impale, inhale, junk mail, Longueuil, lugsail, mainsail, mare's tail, Mondale, moon snail, oxtail, pass-fail, percale, pigtail, pintail, pinwale, plate rail, pot ale, prevail, rattail, regale, resale, rescale, right whale, ringtail, Sangreal, Scottsdale, sea kale, shavetail, shirttail, skysail, slop pail, small-scale, snail mail, soft hail, split rail, springtail, spritsail, square sail, staysail, strong gale, surveil, swordtail, taffrail, tag sale, telltale, third rail, thumbnail, timescale, toenail, topsail, travail, trysail, unnail, unveil, upscale, ventail, voice mail, wage scale, wagtail, wassail, whiptail, white sale, whitetail, white whale, whole gale, wholesale, yard sale
2retail
noun re·tail \ˈrē-ˌtāl\
: the business of selling things directly to customers for their own use
Full Definition of RETAIL
: the sale of commodities or goods in small quantities to ultimate consumers; also : the industry of such selling
— at retail
1
: at a retailer's price
2
: 4retail
See retail defined for English-language learners
Origin of RETAIL
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: 15th century
Other Business Terms
3retail
adjective re·tail \ˈrē-ˌtāl\
: relating to the business of selling things directly to customers for their own use
Full Definition of RETAIL
: of, relating to, or engaged in the sale of commodities at retail <retail trade>
See retail defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of RETAIL
1601
Other Business Terms
4retail
adverb re·tail \ˈrē-ˌtāl\
: in a store that sells things directly to customers for their own use : from a retailer
Full Definition of RETAIL
: in small quantities : from a retailer
See retail defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of RETAIL
1784
Other Business Terms
RETAILER Defined for Kids
1retail
verb re·tail \ˈrē-ˌtāl\
re·tailedre·tail·ing
Definition of RETAIL for Kids
: to sell in small amounts to people for their own use
— re·tail·er noun
2retail
noun
Definition of RETAIL for Kids
: the sale of products or goods in small amounts to people for their own use
3retail
adjective
Definition of RETAIL for Kids
: relating to or engaged in selling products in small amounts to people for their own use <retail stores>
Learn More About RETAIL
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: retail creditPrevious Word in the Dictionary: retabloAll Words Near: retail
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up retail? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).