wholesale
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /ˈhoʊlseɪl/
KK: /ˈhoʊlseɪl/
adjective
Definition
Relating to the sale of large amounts of goods, usually at lower prices, intended for resale by retailers.
Example
The store offers wholesale prices to businesses that buy in bulk.
Conversation
I found a store that sells fruits at wholesale prices.
That sounds great! I always wanted to buy in bulk.
Yeah, it's much cheaper than the regular stores.
Let's go together and stock up on some fresh produce!
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
bulk
mass
large
Antonyms
retail
limited
small
adverb
Definition
In a way that involves selling goods in large quantities, usually at lower prices than retail.
Example
The store buys its products wholesale to save money.
Conversation
I heard you bought a ton of snacks for the party.
Yeah, I got them wholesale to save some money.
That's a smart move! It must be nice to have snacks for everyone.
intransitive verb
Definition
To sell goods in large quantities, usually at lower prices than retail.
Example
The company decided to wholesale their products to reach more customers.
Tense Forms
Past: wholesaled
Past Participle: wholesaled
Conversation
Have you ever thought about buying things wholesale?
Yeah, it sounds like a great way to save money.
I heard that some stores wholesale their products to cut costs.
noun
Definition
The sale of large amounts of goods, usually to be sold again by a retailer.
Example
The store buys its products at wholesale prices to sell them at a profit.
Conversation
I was thinking about buying some supplies for the party at wholesale prices.
That's a great idea! You can save a lot of money that way.
Yeah, I heard that buying wholesale can really cut down costs.
transitive verb
Definition
To sell goods in large amounts, usually to retailers or other businesses, rather than to individual customers.
Example
The company decided to wholesale its products to local stores to increase distribution.
Tense Forms
Past: wholesaled
Past Participle: wholesaled
Conversation
Have you ever thought about how businesses wholesale their products?
Yeah, I guess that's how they keep prices low for stores.
Exactly! I was reading that it helps them sell more efficiently.
Root Explanation
Wholesale → It is formed from "whole" (from Old English *hal*, meaning entire or complete) and "sale" (from Old English *sale*, meaning the act of selling). The word "wholesale" refers to the act of selling goods in large quantities, typically at a lower price per unit, thus emphasizing the entire or complete nature of the transaction.
Memory Tip
Think of buying goods in large amounts, which means you are getting the 'whole' quantity at once, making it a 'sale'.
Visually Confused Words
holeable