English Reference
noun · adjective · verb · adverb

retail

n. · adj. · v. · adv.
US /ˈɹiˌteɪɫ/ UK /ɹˈiːteɪl/ re·tail UK spelling retailed, retails

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Business

    n.the activity of selling goods to the public in shops or online.

    n.the commercial sector involved in selling products directly to end-users rather than to wholesalers or other businesses.

    Simple

    She has worked in retail for five years, mostly in clothing shops.

    In context

    The shift toward e-commerce has forced traditional retail giants to rethink their physical storefront strategies to remain competitive.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Informal Business

    n.the full price of an item before any discounts or sales.

    n.the suggested or standard price of a commodity before the application of discounts, rebates, or promotional offers.

    Simple

    I never pay retail for electronics; I always wait for a holiday sale.

    In context

    While the manufacturer's suggested price is high, few consumers actually pay retail due to the prevalence of seasonal markdowns.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrase 'pay retail'.

    list pricefull price
    discountsale price
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Business

    adj.describing things related to shops and selling to customers.

    adj.pertaining to the sale of goods or services directly to individuals.

    Simple

    The new retail park has plenty of parking for shoppers.

    In context

    The city council approved the development of a new retail space designed to attract high-end boutique brands to the downtown area.

    commercialconsumer facing
  4. 04 C1 Advanced Formal Business

    v.to be sold at a specific price in shops.

    v.to be sold at a specified price to the general public.

    Simple

    This new smartphone will retail for about six hundred dollars.

    In context

    The luxury watch is expected to retail at a significant premium compared to the previous generation's entry-level model.

    Usage

    Usually followed by 'for' or 'at'.

    sell forcost
  5. 05 C2 Proficiency LiteraryArchaic

    v.to tell a story or piece of news to other people.

    v.to recount or relate a story, news, or gossip to others.

    Simple

    He was happy to retail all the latest gossip from the office.

    In context

    She spent the evening retailing the details of her travels to an increasingly bored audience of relatives.

  6. 06 C1 Advanced Technical Business

    adv.selling in small amounts directly to the person who will use the product.

    adv.in a retail manner; directly to the consumer in small quantities.

    Simple

    The company decided to sell its products retail instead of through a middleman.

    In context

    By selling retail, the artisan was able to maintain higher profit margins than if they had used a distributor.

A bag of a similar style to the one Bekyarova-Delev bought retails for about £1,500 on the official Prada website.

BBC News· 11 Aug 2026

I'm more of an Amazon shopper." Argos could also do better on customer service, thinks Hugh Radojev, editor of Retail Week.

BBC News· 6 Aug 2026

From the Old French verb retaillier.

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

This entry
Origin Old French -
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated