resale: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Commercial
Quick answer
What does “resale” mean?
The act of selling something one has previously purchased.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of selling something one has previously purchased; the sale of a thing for a second or subsequent time.
Can refer to the secondary market for goods, often implying the sale of items like tickets, property, or cars at a price different from the original retail price, sometimes for profit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The concept and usage are identical.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. The negative connotation of 'scalping' (e.g., ticket resale) is equally understood.
Frequency
Equal frequency in business and commercial contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “resale” in a Sentence
[NOUN] + of + [PRODUCT] (the resale of tickets)[PREP] + resale (bought for resale)[ADJ] + resale (illegal resale)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “resale” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb. The verb form is 'resell'.)
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb. The verb form is 'resell'.)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable as an adverb.)
American English
- (Not applicable as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- The car's high resale value was a key factor in our decision.
- They operate a popular resale platform for designer clothing.
American English
- Check the estimated resale price before you buy a new phone.
- The condo has great resale potential due to its location.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Crucial in retail, automotive, and real estate for discussing asset depreciation and secondary markets.
Academic
Used in economics papers discussing market efficiency, arbitrage, and price mechanisms.
Everyday
Common when discussing the future value of a car or the reselling of event tickets.
Technical
A defined term in contract law and software licensing agreements (EULA).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “resale”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “resale”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “resale”
- Using 'resell' as a noun (incorrect: 'I made a good resell'; correct: 'I made a good resale').
- Misspelling as 're-sale' (hyphenated form is less standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Resale' is primarily a noun. The verb form is 'resell' (e.g., 'I plan to resell it').
'Retail' is the sale of goods directly to the consumer (first-hand sale). 'Resale' is the subsequent sale of that same item by the first consumer to another buyer (second-hand sale).
No. Resale can be at a profit, at a loss (e.g., a depreciating car), or at the same price. The context indicates the financial outcome.
Yes, especially in business and wholesale contexts. It indicates items are purchased with the intention of selling them on, not for personal use (e.g., 'a wholesaler buys products for resale').
The act of selling something one has previously purchased.
Resale is usually formal, commercial in register.
Resale: in British English it is pronounced /ˈriː.seɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈriː.seɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms with 'resale' as the core component]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think RE-SALE: you SELL something a second time, so you SALE it RE-(again).
Conceptual Metaphor
A GOOD IS A COMMODITY ON A MARKET (secondary market as a distinct space for recycled commodities).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'resale' LEAST likely to be used?