wholesale

/ˈhoʊlseɪl/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: wholesales · wholesaling · wholesaled

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The sale of products, often in large quantities, to retailers or other merchants.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Of or relating to sale in large quantities, for resale.

Adjective

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Extensive, indiscriminate, all-encompassing; blanket.

Adjective

Examples

The bombing resulted in wholesale destruction.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

In bulk or large quantity.

Adverb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “wholesale” mean?

The sale of products, often in large quantities, to retailers or other merchants.

Is “wholesale” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.