Word
wholesale
Phoneticswhole·sale, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhoʊɫˌseɪɫ/
UK/hˈəʊlseɪl/
Definitions
01bulk selling
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Business
n. the business of selling goods in large quantities to shops, who then sell them to customers.
n. the business of selling goods in large quantities to retailers or other merchants rather than to the end consumer.
“The company moved from retail into wholesale to reach more shops across the country.”
“By focusing on wholesale, the manufacturer was able to move massive volumes of inventory without the overhead costs of maintaining individual storefronts.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun or as a modifier in business contexts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02related to bulk sales
B2 · Upper Intermediate Business
adj. connected to the sale of goods in large amounts at lower prices.
adj. relating to the sale of goods in large quantities for the purpose of resale.
“The wholesale price of the shirts is much lower than what you see in the shop.”
“The wholesale market experienced a significant shift as digital platforms allowed smaller boutiques to order directly from international factories.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03complete or total
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. affecting everyone or everything; done on a very large scale without choosing carefully.
adj. extensive and indiscriminate; affecting a large number of people or things without distinction.
“The new manager made wholesale changes to the way the office was run.”
“The government's wholesale rejection of the committee's recommendations sparked a heated debate among policy experts and the general public.”
Teaching tip
In this figurative sense, the word often carries a slightly negative tone, suggesting that the changes were too broad or lacked careful thought.
Synonyms
04in large amounts
B2 · Upper Intermediate Business
adv. buying or selling something in large quantities.
adv. in bulk or large quantity; at a wholesale price.
“They buy their supplies wholesale to keep their costs as low as possible.”
“The restaurant chain sources its organic produce wholesale, ensuring a consistent supply for all its regional locations while maintaining profit margins.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
05to sell in bulk
C2 · Proficiency Business Technical
v. to sell goods in large amounts to other businesses.
v. to engage in the sale of goods at wholesale prices or in large quantities.
“The family business has wholesaled high-quality leather for over fifty years.”
“The firm transitioned its strategy to wholesale exclusively to European distributors, abandoning its previous direct-to-consumer model.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The raw material for the study that reached such a conclusion was the banana—its peels and parts unfit for sale collected from wholesale markets.” “Pretty much all his greatest players were refined and improved rather than nurtured wholesale from childhood.” Etymology
From whole + sale.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/wholesale