WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
whole•sale /ˈhoʊlˌseɪl/USA pronunciation
n., adj., adv., v., -saled, -sal•ing.
n. [uncountable]
adj.
adv.
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n. [uncountable]
- Businessthe sale of goods in quantity, as to retailers.
adj.
- Businessof or working in wholesale sales.
- indiscriminate:wholesale layoffs.
adv.
- on wholesale terms.
- in a wholesale way;
in large amounts or on a large scale:The company began firing people wholesale.
v.
- Businessto sell by wholesale: [~ + object]to wholesale leftover goods.[no object]not in the business of wholesaling.
whole•sale
(hōl′sāl′),USA pronunciation n., adj., adv., v., -saled, -sal•ing.
n.
adj.
adv.
v.t., v.i.
whole′sal′er, n.
n.
- Businessthe sale of goods in quantity, as to retailers or jobbers, for resale (opposed to retail).
adj.
- Businessof, pertaining to, or engaged in sale by wholesale.
- extensive;
broadly indiscriminate:wholesale discharge of workers.
adv.
- in a wholesale way;
on wholesale terms:I can get it for you wholesale. - in large quantities;
on a large scale, esp. without discrimination:Wild horses were slaughtered wholesale.
v.t., v.i.
- Businessto sell by wholesale.
- 1375–1425; late Middle English, from the phrase by hole sale in gross; see whole, sale
- 3. far-reaching, comprehensive, thorough, inclusive; undiscriminating, promiscuous.