wholesale
B2Formal in business; semi-formal/informal when used metaphorically.
Definition
Meaning
The business of selling large quantities of goods at low prices, typically to be sold on by retailers to the public.
On a large scale; extensive, indiscriminate, or all-encompassing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun and adjective in core meaning. The adverbial and extended adjectival senses ('wholesale destruction', 'they changed the rules wholesale') are derived via metaphor from the core meaning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Spelling remains the same.
Connotations
In both varieties, the extended meaning ('wholesale changes') carries a connotation of something being sweeping, complete, and often sudden or drastic.
Frequency
Core business meaning is equally frequent. Metaphorical/extended use is slightly more common in journalistic and political discourse in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[sell/buy] + wholesale (adv)[Noun] + wholesale (adj) + [Noun][Verb of change/destruction] + wholesale (adv)engage in + wholesale (noun)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(not) by wholesale”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Central term: 'We source our products at wholesale prices from a manufacturer in Poland.'
Academic
Used in economics, business studies, and history (e.g., 'the wholesale shift from agrarian to industrial society').
Everyday
Less common. Understood in contexts like shopping ('I buy these wholesale for my small shop') or metaphorically ('The manager made wholesale changes to the team').
Technical
Specific in logistics and supply chain management, with precise definitions of 'wholesale price index' etc.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company wholesales electrical components to trade customers.
American English
- They wholesale automotive parts across the Midwest.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My uncle has a wholesale business.
- Fruit is cheaper at the wholesale market.
- They buy their stock wholesale and sell it in their shop.
- The wholesale price does not include tax.
- The government's reforms led to the wholesale privatisation of the industry.
- We are looking for a wholesale distributor for our new product line.
- The report criticised the wholesale adoption of foreign models without considering local context.
- The allegations prompted a wholesale review of the department's ethical guidelines.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the WHOLE SALE – you're selling the WHOLE lot, not just pieces. It's for the WHOLE market, not individual customers.
Conceptual Metaphor
LARGE QUANTITY IS WHOLESALE (Metaphorical extension: COMPLETE/INDISCRIMINATE CHANGE IS WHOLESALE).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'оптовая торговля' (core meaning is correct). The adverbial/metaphorical use ('wholesale changes' = 'коренные/радикальные изменения', NOT 'оптовые изменения'). 'Wholesale price' is 'оптовая цена', not 'целая цена'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'wholesale' as a verb incorrectly (e.g., 'He wholesales vegetables' is correct but formal/industry-specific; 'He does wholesale' is more common). Confusing 'wholesale' (adj/adv/noun) with 'whole sale' (separate words). Using 'wholesale' to mean 'healthy' (confusion with 'whole' + 'some' = 'wholesome').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'wholesale' in modern English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes, for the core business meaning. However, in its metaphorical sense, it can apply to abstract things (wholesale changes, wholesale rejection of ideas).
Yes, but it is industry-specific (e.g., 'The firm wholesales textiles'). In everyday language, phrases like 'sell wholesale' or 'buy wholesale' are more common.
Wholesale involves selling large quantities at lower prices to businesses (retailers) who then sell to the public. Retail involves selling individual items directly to the end consumer at a higher price.
It is an adjective modifying the noun 'destruction'. It means 'extensive, all-encompassing destruction'. As an adverb, it would modify a verb: 'They destroyed the village wholesale.'
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