Sale vs. Sell — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 6, 2023
"Sale" is a noun referring to the act of selling or an item being sold, while "Sell" is a verb meaning to transfer ownership for money.
Difference Between Sale and Sell
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Key Differences
"Sale" and "Sell" are two terms often used in commerce, but they occupy different grammatical categories and convey distinct meanings.
"Sale" primarily functions as a noun and points to the event or act of selling something, or the item that has been put up to be sold. For instance, a "garage sale" is an event where items are sold, and "for sale" indicates that an item is available for purchase. On the other hand, "Sell" operates as a verb, denoting the action of transferring ownership of something in exchange for money. If someone aims to "sell their car," they are expressing a desire to find a buyer for it.
While "Sale" emphasizes the event or the item being sold, "Sell" focuses on the action itself. Grasping the difference between "Sale" and "Sell" is crucial for clear communication, especially in commercial contexts.
Comparison Chart
Grammatical Category
Noun.
Verb.
Definition
The act of selling or an item being sold.
To transfer ownership in exchange for money.
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Usage in Sentence
Used as a subject or object.
Used as an action or verb.
Example Context
Events like "garage sale".
Actions like "sell a product".
Related Terms
Salesperson, salesclerk.
Seller, selling.
Compare with Definitions
Sale
A period when goods are sold at reduced prices.
I bought this jacket during the winter sale.
Sell
To transfer ownership of something for money.
I will sell my old laptop.
Sale
An event where items are discounted.
The store has a sale every summer.
Sell
To establish a belief or impression.
She sold the role with her outstanding performance.
Sale
The exchange of a commodity for money; the action of selling something
The sale has fallen through
We withdrew it from sale
Sell
To exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
We sold our old car for a modest sum.
Sale
A period during which a shop or dealer sells goods at reduced prices
The January sales got under way this week
Sell
To offer or have available for sale
The store sells health foods.
Sale
The exchange of goods or services for an amount of money or its equivalent; the act of selling
The sale of such a nice house should be easy.
Sell
To give up or surrender in exchange for a price or reward
Sell one's soul to the devil.
Sale
A selling of property to the highest bidder; an auction.
Sell
To be purchased in (a certain quantity); achieve sales of
A book that sold a million copies.
Sale
An offer or arrangement in which goods are sold at a discount
The store has a sale on winter coats.
Sell
To bring about or encourage sales of; promote
Good publicity sold the product.
Sale
The business or activity of selling goods or services
She works in sales.
Sell
To cause to be accepted; advocate successfully
We sold the proposal to the school committee.
Sale
The number of items sold or the amount of money received for a number of items sold
Sales are better than expected.
Sell
To persuade (another) to recognize the worth or desirability of something
They sold me on the idea.
Sale
An exchange of goods or services for currency or credit.
He celebrated after the sale of company.
Sell
To exchange ownership for money or its equivalent; engage in selling
Are any of the fruit vendors still selling?.
Sale
Short for discount sale The sale of goods at reduced prices.
They are having a clearance sale: 50% off.
Sell
To be sold or be on sale
Grapes are selling high this season.
Sale
The act of putting up for auction to the highest bidder.
Sell
To attract prospective buyers; be popular on the market
An item that doesn't sell.
Sale
(obsolete) A hall.
Sell
To be approved of; gain acceptance
An idea that just wouldn't sell.
Sale
See 1st Sallow.
Sell
An act or instance of selling
Ordered a sell of his shares in the company.
Sale
The act of selling; the transfer of property, or a contract to transfer the ownership of property, from one person to another for a valuable consideration, or for a price in money.
Sell
Something that sells or gains acceptance in a particular way
Their program to raise taxes will be a difficult sell.
Sale
Opportunity of selling; demand; market.
They shall have ready sale for them.
Sell
(Slang) A deception; a hoax.
Sale
Public disposal to the highest bidder, or exposure of goods in market; auction.
Sell
To transfer goods or provide services in exchange for money.
I'll sell you three books for a hundred dollars.
Sorry, I'm not prepared to sell.
Sale
The general activity of selling;
They tried to boost sales
Laws limit the sale of handguns
Sell
(ergative) To be sold.
This old stock will never sell.
The corn sold for a good price.
Sale
A particular instance of selling;
He has just made his first sale
They had to complete the sale before the banks closed
Sell
To promote a product or service.
Sale
The state of being purchasable; offered or exhibited for selling;
You'll find vitamin C for sale at most pharmacies
The new line of cars will soon be on sale
Sell
To promote a particular viewpoint.
My boss is very old-fashioned and I'm having a lot of trouble selling the idea of working at home occasionally.
Sale
An occasion (usually brief) for buying at specially reduced prices;
They held a sale to reduce their inventory
I got some great bargains at their annual sale
Sell
To betray for money or other things.
Sale
An agreement (or contract) in which property is transferred from the seller (vendor) to the buyer (vendee) for a fixed price in money (paid or agreed to be paid by the buyer);
The salesman faxed the sales agreement to his home office
Sell
(slang) To trick, cheat, or manipulate someone.
Sale
The act or process of selling something.
The sale of the house was completed quickly.
Sell
To pretend that an opponent's blows or maneuvers are causing legitimate injury; to act.
Sale
An item or items available for purchase.
The paintings are for sale in the gallery.
Sell
To work as a prostitute.
Sale
The transfer of ownership for money.
The sale of company assets raised significant capital.
Sell
An act of selling; sale.
Sell
The promotion of an idea for acceptance.
This is going to be a tough sell.
Sell
An easy task.
Sell
An imposition, a cheat; a hoax; a disappointment; anything occasioning a loss of pride or dignity.
Sell
(obsolete) A seat or stool.
Sell
(archaic) A saddle.
Sell
A rope (usually for tying up cattle, but can also mean any sort of rope).
He picked up the sell from the straw-strewn barn-floor, snelly sneaked up behind her and sleekly slung it around her swire while scryingː "dee, dee ye fooking quhoreǃ".
Sell
Self.
Sell
A sill.
Sell
A cell; a house.
Sell
A saddle for a horse.
He left his lofty steed with golden self.
Sell
A throne or lofty seat.
Sell
An imposition; a cheat; a hoax.
Sell
To transfer to another for an equivalent; to give up for a valuable consideration; to dispose of in return for something, especially for money. It is the correlative of buy.
If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor.
I am changed; I'll go sell all my land.
Sell
To make a matter of bargain and sale of; to accept a price or reward for, as for a breach of duty, trust, or the like; to betray.
You would have sold your king to slaughter.
Sell
To impose upon; to trick; to deceive; to make a fool of; to cheat.
Sell
To practice selling commodities.
I will buy with you, sell with you; . . . but I will not eat with you.
Sell
To be sold; as, corn sells at a good price.
Sell
The activity of persuading someone to buy;
It was a hard sell
Sell
Exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent;
He sold his house in January
She sells her body to survive and support her drug habit
Sell
Be sold at a certain price or in a certain way;
These books sell like hot cakes
Sell
Do business; offer for sale as for one's livelihood;
She deals in gold
The brothers sell shoes
Sell
Persuade somebody to accept something;
The French try to sell us their image as great lovers
Sell
Give up for a price or reward;
She sold her principles for a successful career
Sell
Deliver to an enemy by treachery;
Judas sold Jesus
The spy betrayed his country
Sell
Be approved of or gain acceptance;
The new idea sold well in certain circles
Sell
Be responsible for the sale of;
All her publicity sold the products
Sell
To be purchased by consumers.
This product sells well during the holidays.
Sell
To persuade someone of the merits of.
He could sell ice to Eskimos because of his convincing pitch.
Sell
To betray someone.
He felt they tried to sell him out during negotiations.
Common Curiosities
What grammatical role does "Sale" typically occupy?
"Sale" is primarily used as a noun in sentences.
Can "Sell" be used in a metaphorical sense?
Yes, "Sell" can be metaphorical, as in "sell someone short" or "sell an idea."
How does "Sell" function in a sentence?
"Sell" functions as a verb, indicating the action of transferring ownership for money.
How would you use "Sale" to indicate something is available for purchase?
You can say the item is "for sale" or "up for sale."
If a product is popular and gets purchased often, how would you use "Sell"?
You can say the product "sells well" or "sells like hotcakes."
How is "Sell" used in a betraying context?
In a context of betrayal, "Sell" can be used as in "sell someone out."
Are "Sale" and "Sell" interchangeable?
No, "Sale" is a noun, and "Sell" is a verb. Their usage depends on the context and sentence structure.
Can "Sale" refer to a specific event?
Yes, "Sale" can refer to an event where items are sold, like a "yard sale" or "clearance sale."
If a store is offering discounted items, which word is appropriate?
The term "Sale" is appropriate, as in "The store is having a sale."
Can "Sell" imply persuading someone?
Yes, "Sell" can imply persuasion, as in "trying to sell an idea."
Can "Sale" indicate a specific item being sold?
Yes, "Sale" can point to a specific item, as in "The sale item is out of stock."
How would you use "Sell" to indicate past action?
You would use the past form, as in "sold," like "I sold my car."
Can "Sale" refer to the process of selling?
Yes, "Sale" can refer to the process, as in "The sale of the property took months."
How would you use "Sell" in the context of the stock market?
In a stock context, you might say, "I decided to sell my shares."
How is "Sell" used to describe a person's capability?
You can use it as in "He can sell anything," implying the person's persuasiveness or sales capability.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
