for sale

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sale /seɪl/   n. 

1. an act of selling:
   [countable] trying to make a sale.
2. a special offering of goods at reduced prices:
   [countable] They're having a sale: 20% off.
3. [countable] transfer of property for money or credit.
4. [countable]
   • an amount or quantity sold.
   • sales, [plural] total receipts from selling.
5. [countable] an auction.
6. sales, [uncountable* used with a singular verb] a department, as in a business, concerned with selling and promoting goods, etc.:
   Sales is the department you want to see.

Idioms

7. Idioms for sale, [uncountable] available for purchase:
   This house is for sale.

Idioms on sale, [uncountable] to be bought at reduced prices:

The store has computers on sale for 50% off.

sal•a•ble, sale•a•ble, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sale  (sāl), n. 

1. the act of selling.
2. a quantity sold.
3. opportunity to sell;
   demand:
   slow sale.
4. a special disposal of goods, as at reduced prices.
5. transfer of property for money or credit.
6. an auction.
7. Idioms for sale, offered to be sold;
   made available to purchasers.
8. Idioms on sale, able to be bought at reduced prices.

• bef. 1050; Middle English; late Old English sala; cognate with Old Norse, Old High German sala. Compare sell ¹