ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bookseller

n.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈbʊkˌsɛɫɝ// UK //bˈʊksɛlɐ// book·sell·er

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.

Origin

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

© 2026 English Reference