ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dealer

n.
US //ˈdiɫɝ// UK //dˈiːlɐ// deal·er
  1. 1 business person (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a person or company that buys and sells specific products, like cars, antiques, or art.

    a person or firm engaged in the commercial purchase and sale of specific commodities or goods.

    Example

    We visited a local car dealer to see if they had any used SUVs in stock.

    Example

    The antique dealer spent years cultivating a network of private collectors to ensure a steady supply of rare eighteenth-century furniture.
  2. 2 card games (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the person who gives out the playing cards to the players in a game.

    the individual responsible for distributing playing cards to participants in a game of chance or skill.

    Example

    The dealer shuffled the deck twice before starting the next round of poker.

    Example

    In professional casinos, the dealer must follow strict protocols to ensure the integrity of the game and the security of the chips.
    • croupier
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  1. 3 illegal drugs (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    someone who sells illegal drugs.

    an individual involved in the illicit sale and distribution of controlled substances.

    Example

    The police arrested a suspected drug dealer in the park last night.

    Example

    Undercover officers spent months monitoring the street corner to identify the primary dealer responsible for the recent surge in local crime.
  2. 4 finance (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    a person or company that trades stocks or bonds for themselves.

    a financial intermediary that trades securities for its own account rather than acting purely as an agent for others.

    Example

    The bank acts as a primary dealer for government bonds.

    Example

    Unlike a broker who merely facilitates trades, a dealer maintains an inventory of securities and profits from the spread between the bid and ask prices.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrase 'broker-dealer' in regulatory contexts.
Origin

From Middle English delare, from Old English dǣlere, from Proto-West Germanic [Term?]. By surface analysis, deal + -er. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Deeler, West Frisian dieler, Dutch deler, German Teiler, Swedish delare.

Word family

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