English Reference
Noun

bookseller

n.
B1 Intermediate US /ˈbʊkˌsɛɫɝ/ UK /bˈʊksɛlɐ/ book·sell·er UK spelling bookseller's, bookseller's

n.a person whose job is to sell books. You might find one in a small shop that sells only books or in a larger store that sells many different things.

n.a person who sells books as a profession. Often used to distinguish a retail professional from an author or a publisher.


SIMPLE

The local bookseller recommends a new novel every month.

CONTEXTUAL

After years of working in a large chain store, she decided to open her own independent bookseller shop.

COMPLEX

The independent bookseller remains a vital part of the literary ecosystem, providing a curated selection of titles that larger retailers often overlook in favor of mass-market bestsellers.


From Middle English boksellere, bok-sillere, equivalent to book + seller.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English boksellere
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated