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retail

/ˈɹiˌteɪl/
nounadjectiveadverbverb

RETAIL means selling goods directly to consumers; in Scrabble, it scores 6 points from six one-point tiles.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Noun 3 meanings

  1. The sale of goods directly to the consumer, encompassing the storefronts, mail-order, websites, etc., and the corporate mechanisms, branding, advertising, etc. that support them.

    “She works in retail.”

  2. The sale of securities or other financial instruments to private investors, as opposed to large institutions.

  3. Retail price; full price; an abbreviated expression, meaning the full suggested price of a particular good or service, before any sale, discount, or other deal.

    “I never pay retail for clothes.”

Adjective 1 meaning

  1. Of or relating to the (actual or figurative) sale of goods or services directly to individuals.

Adverb 1 meaning

  1. Direct to consumers, in retail quantities, or at retail prices.

    “We've shut shown our reseller unit. We're only selling retail now.”

Verb 2 meanings

  1. To sell at retail, or in small quantities directly to customers.

  2. To repeat or circulate (news or rumours) to others.

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From the Old French verb retaillier.

Similar and opposite words

Opposite
wholesale

Retail is both a noun and a verb: it names the direct sale of goods to consumers and the act of selling them that way. The word also describes full-price sales, before discounts, and can refer to securities sold to private investors rather than institutions. Its familiar spelling is especially playable because all six tiles carry the same face value.

RETAIL at a glance

  • RETAIL has six letters and a Scrabble face value of 6.
  • R, E, T, A, I and L each contribute one point.
  • TAILER and RETIAL are the two anagrams.
  • DETAIL, RETAIN and REMAIL are three of its six one-letter neighbours.

How do you score and extend RETAIL?

RETAIL scores 6 points because R, E, T, A, I and L are all one-point tiles. The board matters more than the word’s ordinary value: a premium square or word multiplier can change the total. The letter-by-letter sum stays 6 before board bonuses.

Before playing, check whether RETAIL fits an open lane without exposing a premium square to your opponent. Its base score is modest, and no tile provides a high-value swing; a placement that forms crosswords can still improve the play. DETAIL differs by one letter and is the clearest everyday neighbour.

What does RETAIL mean?

Retail means selling goods directly to consumers, through a shop, by mail order or on a website. It also names the business systems behind those sales, including branding and advertising. A second sense covers securities sold to private investors rather than large institutions; in everyday conversation, consumer sales are the more familiar meaning.

As a verb, retail means to sell in small quantities directly to customers. The word also appears in “retail price,” meaning the full suggested price before a discount or deal. The retail meaning is separate from dictionary acceptance: RETAIL appears in ENABLE, NWL2023 and Collins, but your game determines which list applies.

Rhymes with retail

All rhymes

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest

Questions people ask

Is RETAIL valid in Scrabble?
Yes, RETAIL is accepted in ENABLE, NWL2023 and Collins. Its six tiles are each worth one point, giving it a base Scrabble score of 6 before any board bonuses. Check which word list your game uses, since accepted words can differ between lists.
What are the anagrams of RETAIL?
TAILER and RETIAL are the two anagrams of RETAIL. Both use the same six letters, but they are much less familiar than RETAIL itself. Check your game’s dictionary before playing either one, because the available word list determines acceptance.
Which words are one letter away from RETAIL?
DETAIL, RETAIN, REMAIL, RENAIL, RERAIL and RESAIL are the six one-letter neighbours of RETAIL. DETAIL and RETAIN are the most familiar options. The remaining forms are less common, so confirm them in your game’s word list before using one.

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