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Meaning & use

retailer

noun·Everydaybusiness

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UK/ˈriːteɪlə/
US/ˈriːteɪlər/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablebusiness

    A person or company that sells products to the public, usually in small amounts, rather than to other businesses.

    Grammar: Takes an article or plural: a retailer, major retailers.

    Patterns

    • a retailer of something
    • a retailer sells something

    The largest retailer in town is closing two stores.

    She buys her tea from an online retailer.

    Retailers expect a busy holiday season.

  2. nouncountablebusiness

    A company that sells goods to customers through shops or online, as opposed to making or distributing them.

    Grammar: Often used with a describing word: a clothing retailer.

    Patterns

    • a clothing retailer
    • an online retailer

    He works as a manager at a clothing retailer.

    The retailer offered free delivery on orders over fifty dollars.

    Small independent retailers struggle against large chains.

Word forms

pluralretailers

Common combinations

online retailer
The online retailer ships worldwide.
major retailer
Every major retailer cut prices before the holidays.
independent retailer
An independent retailer on the corner sells local honey.
authorized retailer
Buy only from an authorized retailer to avoid fakes.
retailer and wholesaler
The retailer buys from a wholesaler and adds a markup.

Synonyms and how they differ

shopkeeper
A shopkeeper runs a single shop, while retailer can mean a huge chain or website.
merchant
Merchant is broader and older, covering any trader, but retailer specifically sells to the public.
seller
Seller is the plain word for anyone who sells, and it can include private individuals, while retailer implies a business.
vendor
Vendor can mean any seller, often at a stall or market, or a supplier to a business, and it is less specific than retailer.

Opposites

wholesalermanufacturerconsumer

Word family

retail noun
the selling of goods to the public
retail verb
to sell to customers, or to be sold at a price
wholesale noun
selling in large amounts to businesses
retailing noun
the business of selling to the public

Commonly confused: retailer or wholesaler?

retailer vs wholesaler

A wholesaler sells large quantities to businesses, while a retailer sells small quantities to ordinary customers.

Practice

A shop that buys boxes of shoes from a supplier and sells them one pair at a time to customers is a ____.

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