What does retail mean?
Retail is the business of selling goods to individual consumers. It usually involves relatively small quantities rather than bulk sales, and the prices commonly include the retailer's own costs and profit. Retail can name the sector as a whole, as in “the retail market,” or refer to a business that sells directly to the public. The word can also be a verb, meaning to sell goods in this way, and an adjective, as in “retail price.” In everyday use, retail is often contrasted with wholesale, which describes selling goods in bulk to shops, businesses, or other resellers. The term covers traditional shops, supermarkets, department stores, and online retailers, although online transactions are often discussed specifically as online retail. Retail matters broadly because it represents the final stage of many commercial transactions and is the point at which consumers encounter most products in everyday life.
The business or sector of selling goods to individual consumers, typically in relatively small quantities and at retail prices.
"The company has expanded rapidly in retail and online sales."
The plural retails is uncommon; retail is normally used as a mass noun or attributive modifier.
To sell goods directly to individual consumers.
"The workshop retails handmade ceramics at local markets."
Often used for a company or brand whose main activity is selling directly to the public.
Relating to goods or businesses intended for sale to individual consumers rather than for wholesale resale.
"The store sells the same jacket for less than the suggested retail price."
Common in established phrases such as retail price, retail store, and retail market.
Usually unnecessary because retail is normally a mass noun. The plural retails is uncommon and is encountered chiefly in formal or historical usage.
"The shop changed from selling only by retail to supplying larger traders."
The word retail literally means “cut again”: it entered English from French through re-tailler, “to cut again,” originally referring to cutting cloth into pieces for sale.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does retail come from?
Retail entered Middle English in the late medieval period from Anglo-French retail, a noun meaning sale by the piece or retail. The English word came through French retail and retaillier, “to cut again,” which ultimately drew on tailler, “to cut.” The cutting sense originally referred to dividing cloth or other materials into pieces suitable for sale. French detail and entail were also formed from tailler and related French elements, while English tailor developed from the same French verbal root.
Related word forms
How retail is actually used
As a noun, retail commonly describes the consumer sales sector or the business of selling to the public. As a verb, it usually implies selling finished goods directly to consumers. The attributive adjective retail is standard, although retail-level sales is used when contrasting consumer transactions with wholesale transactions.
Easily confused with retail
Retail refers to selling goods to consumers, whereas retell means to recount a story or event.
Retail involves selling goods to individual consumers, while wholesale involves selling goods in bulk to businesses or other bulk purchasers.