# wholesale

/ˈhoʊɫˌseɪɫ/ (US) · /hˈəʊlseɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wholesale
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. bulk selling

noun · CEFR B2

the business of selling goods in large quantities to shops, who then sell them to customers.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. related to bulk sales

adjective · CEFR B2

connected to the sale of goods in large amounts at lower prices.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. complete or total

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

affecting everyone or everything; done on a very large scale without choosing carefully.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. in large amounts

adverb · CEFR B2

buying or selling something in large quantities.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. to sell in bulk

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to sell goods in large amounts to other businesses.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The shop buys its stock at wholesale.
- By purchasing their supplies at wholesale, the restaurant chain significantly reduced its monthly operating costs.
- The transition from traditional retail to wholesale allowed the manufacturer to scale operations without the overhead of managing individual storefronts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.