retail
gb/ɹˈitˌeɪl/ us/ɹˈitˌeɪl/
B1
English
~ 1500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Selling goods to the public
The activity of selling things to people for their own use, not to other stores.
Usage pattern:
[something] in retail
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'retail' with 'wholesale'. Retail is for end customers; wholesale is for resellers.
Synonyms
merchandising (Refers more broadly to promoting and selling goods, not just direct sales to consumers.)
Antonyms
wholesale (Refers to selling goods in large quantities to be resold by others, not directly to the public.)
Collocations
retail store
|retail price
|retail industry
|retail chain
|retail sales
Themes
business
|commerce
|shopping
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company has been in retail for over twenty years.
- Retail sales have increased this quarter.
- She works in retail and enjoys helping customers find what they need.
- Online retail is growing faster than traditional stores.
- Retail prices are higher than wholesale prices.
Learner examples
- My brother works in retail.
- Retail stores sell things to people.
- I like shopping in retail shops.
- Retail is different from wholesale.
- Many people have jobs in retail.
Verb
B2
action
2
Sell goods directly to public
To sell things to people for their own use, not to other stores.
Usage pattern:
to retail [something]
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'retail' as a verb means 'to tell again' because of the similar sound to 'retell'.
Synonyms
sell (A more general term that includes all types of sales, not just direct to consumers.)
Antonyms
wholesale (Selling in bulk to resellers instead of individual customers.)
Collocations
retail goods
|retail products
|retail items
Themes
business
|commerce
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They retail handmade jewelry at local markets.
- The company retails its products through an online store.
- This brand retails high-end clothing in select boutiques.
- The shop retails electronics at competitive prices.
Learner examples
- The store retails clothes and shoes.
- They retail fruit at the market.
- We retail our products online.
- He retails books in a small shop.
Verb
C1
action
3
Tell detailed stories or gossip
To tell people details about something, often gossip or news.
Usage pattern:
to retail [story/information]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'retail' here with its business meaning; context clarifies it refers to telling stories or gossip.
Synonyms
recount (Focuses on telling a story or event, not necessarily gossip.)
Antonyms
conceal (To keep information secret instead of sharing it.)
Collocations
retail gossip
|retail stories
|retail rumors
Themes
communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He enjoys retailing amusing stories from his travels.
- She retailed every detail of the argument to her friends.
- The journalist retailed the events of the scandal in great detail.
Learner examples
- She retailed the news to everyone.
- He retailed a funny story.
- They retailed the gossip quickly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
retail
IPA
GB/ɹˈitˌeɪl/
US/ɹˈitˌeɪl/
Syllables & stress
re - tail (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (re)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: retail
- Plural: retail
Verb
- Base: retail
- 3rd Person Singular: retails
- Present Participle: retailing
- Past: retailed
Word family
Expressions
full retail price
1/fˈʊl ɹˈitˌeɪl pɹˈaɪs/
fixed phrase
Normal price without discount
The regular price of something before any discount or sale.
Examples
- I never buy electronics at full retail price.
- The jacket was expensive at full retail price, but I got it on sale.
retail outlet
1/ɹˈitˌeɪl ˈaʊtlˌɛt/
fixed phrase
Store selling directly to public
A shop that sells things directly to people for their own use.
Examples
- The company has several retail outlets across the country.
- We visited a new retail outlet that opened downtown.
retail therapy
1/ɹˈitˌeɪl θˈɛɹəpi/
fixed phrase
informal
Shopping to feel better emotionally
Shopping done to make yourself feel happier when you are sad or stressed.
Examples
- After a tough week, she indulged in some retail therapy at the mall.
- Many people turn to retail therapy when they feel down.
suggested retail price
1/səd͡ʒˈɛstɪd ɹˈitˌeɪl pɹˈaɪs/
fixed phrase
technical
Manufacturer's recommended price
The price that a company says its product should be sold for.
Examples
- The suggested retail price for this phone is $699.
- Stores often sell items below the suggested retail price during sales.