# retail

Pronunciation: say "REE-tayl" US /ˈɹiˌteɪl/, UK /ˈɹiːteɪl/

## Adjective

1. Relating to selling goods or services directly to individual consumers; figuratively, involving direct engagement with individuals or small groups.
   - Simple: Having to do with selling goods or services straight to ordinary shoppers, or with dealing with people one at a time.
   - _The company expanded its retail operations into three new cities._
   - _Candidates often adopt a retail approach, meeting voters one by one._

## Noun

2. The sale of goods directly to consumers, including the storefronts, mail-order, and websites involved, along with the branding and advertising that support them.
   - Simple: The selling of goods straight to the people who use them, through stores, mail order, and websites.
   - _After years in banking, she moved into retail and opened a clothing shop._
   - _The shift toward online shopping has reshaped how retail reaches its customers._
4. The full suggested price set for a good or service, the amount that any sale, discount, or other deal is measured against. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: The full price of something before any discount or sale.
   - _He bragged about never paying retail for anything in his closet._
   - _The console sells for well under retail during the holiday rush._
6. In finance, the selling of securities and other financial products to private individuals rather than to large institutions.
   - Simple: In finance, selling shares and other investments to ordinary people, not to big firms.
   - _After ten years selling to pension funds, she moved into retail, marketing bonds to private clients._
   - _Retail investors snapped up a large part of the offering within hours._

## Verb

3. To sell in small quantities directly to customers, rather than in bulk to other businesses.
   - Simple: To sell goods in small amounts straight to the people who will use them.
   - _Small farms increasingly retail their produce straight to households._
   - _The workshop retails its pottery at weekend craft markets._
7. To repeat or circulate news or rumors by passing them along to others. (pronounced: say "ri-TAYL" /ɹɪˈteɪl/)
   - Simple: To pass on news or stories by telling them to other people.
   - _Columnists eagerly retail every rumor that drifts out of the palace._
   - _He retailed the story so often that the details changed with each telling._

## Adverb

5. Directly to consumers, in small quantities, or at the full marked price.
   - Simple: Straight to the people who use the goods, in small amounts, or at full price.
   - _If you buy the parts retail, the repair will cost almost twice as much as the shop's quote._
   - _The company sells retail through its own outlets and wholesale to distributors._

## Verb

8. To sell goods at second hand, passing on to a new buyer what was bought from another seller. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: To sell again goods that were bought from another seller.

## Origin

The word comes from the Old French verb retaillier.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/retail (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).