Meaning & use
e-tailers
Last updated
“e-tailers” is a form of “e-tailer”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounpluralinformal
Businesses that sell products or services directly to customers over the internet.
Grammar: Plural noun; the singular is 'e-tailer'. Use a plural verb: 'E-tailers are growing'.
Patterns
- e-tailers sell something
- online e-tailers
- a group of e-tailers
E-tailers like Amazon and Etsy have changed how people shop.
Many traditional stores have become e-tailers to reach more customers.
E-tailers often offer free shipping to compete with physical shops.
Word forms
| singular | e-tailer |
|---|
Common combinations
- online e-tailers
- Online e-tailers reported record sales during the holiday season.
- major e-tailers
- Major e-tailers invest heavily in fast delivery networks.
- e-tailers and brick-and-mortar stores
- The report compared e-tailers and brick-and-mortar stores.
- a group of e-tailers
- A group of e-tailers launched a campaign for greener packaging.
Synonyms and how they differ
- online retailers
- This is the standard, more formal term; 'e-tailers' is a casual, industry-friendly shortening.
- internet sellers
- A broad, plain phrase; 'e-tailers' specifically suggests a business focused on online retail.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: e-tailers or retailers?
e-tailers vs retailers
'Retailers' can be any shop, online or physical; 'e-tailers' specifically sell over the internet.
Practice
During the sale, many ______ offered discounts of up to 50 percent.
Choose one answer.
The sentence needs a plural noun to agree with 'many' and the plural verb 'offered'. 'E-tailer' is singular, while 'e-tailing' and 'e-tail' refer to the activity, not the businesses.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “e-tailers”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.