retail

/ˈriːteɪl/ noun [U] COMMERCE

Definition

› the activity of selling goods to the public in stores, on the internet, etc., rather than selling to stores, other businesses, etc.: She has worked in retail her entire adult life. Organic food is one of the largest growth areas in food in the UK in retail. Food retail is extremely competitive.

a retail chain/outlet/store › a store or group of stores that sells goods to the public: They operate the largest toy retail chain in the country.

the retail market/sector/trade › the business activity of selling goods through stores to the public, or the companies involved in this: The company is now the UK's eighth-largest motor insurer in the retail market.

a retail buyer/consumer/customer › a person who buys goods, rather than a store or other business: Both companies are trying to attract retail customers.

→ Compare wholesale adjective

(Definition of retail noun from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)