bestseller: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Formal; common in commercial, media, and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “bestseller” mean?
A product, especially a book, that sells in very large numbers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A product, especially a book, that sells in very large numbers.
Can refer to any item (book, album, video game, device) that achieves extremely high sales volume within a given period; also used to describe the creator (author) of such a work.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The hyphenated form 'best-seller' is slightly more common in edited British English, but 'bestseller' is dominant in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical; carries connotations of popularity, commercial success, and mainstream appeal.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “bestseller” in a Sentence
[be/become] a bestseller[author/album/book] is a bestseller[feature on/ top] the bestseller listVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bestseller” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The novel bestsellerded for 40 weeks.
- It's predicted to bestseller upon release.
American English
- The novel bestsellerded for 40 weeks.
- It's predicted to bestseller upon release.
adverb
British English
- The book sold bestsellingly well in its first month.
American English
- The book sold bestsellingly well in its first month.
adjective
British English
- She is a best-selling author.
- The bestseller list was updated.
American English
- She is a bestselling author.
- The bestseller list was updated.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in marketing, sales reports, and publishing to denote highly profitable products.
Academic
Used in media studies, cultural studies, or publishing courses to analyze market trends.
Everyday
Common in conversations about books, music, films, and popular culture.
Technical
Specific publishing term with defined criteria (e.g., list position over a set period).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bestseller”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bestseller”
- Using 'bestseller' to describe a critically acclaimed but low-selling work.
- Confusing with 'best seller' (a person who sells the most).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it only indicates high sales volume. Quality and popularity do not always correlate.
Typically, it needs to sustain high sales over a period (e.g., a week or month) to qualify for official lists. Instant claims are often marketing.
'Bestseller' is generic for high sales; 'blockbuster' implies an exceptionally huge, often sensational, commercial success, originally from film.
Not critically. Modern dictionaries list both 'bestseller' and 'best-seller'. The closed form is more common, especially in digital contexts.
A product, especially a book, that sells in very large numbers.
Bestseller is usually neutral to formal; common in commercial, media, and everyday contexts. in register.
Bestseller: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbestˈsel.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbestˌsel.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to have] a bestseller on one's hands”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The BEST product that SELLS the most. Combine 'best' and 'seller'.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMERCIAL SUCCESS IS A HIGH POSITION (topping the list, chart-topper).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is most commonly associated with 'bestseller'?