A sale is when something is offered at a lower price than usual. When a store has a sale, it marks items down so customers can buy them for less money. You might see signs saying “50% off” or “Buy one, get one free.” Stores hold sales to attract customers, clear out old inventory before new products arrive, or celebrate special occasions like back-to-school season or holidays.

The word also means the act of selling something: the exchange of goods for money. When a shopkeeper completes a sale, they've successfully sold an item to a customer. A salesperson's job is to make sales by convincing people to buy products. Companies track their sales to see how much they're selling and earning.

You might hear phrases like for sale (available to be purchased) or on sale (available at a reduced price). These mean different things: a house for sale is available to buy at its regular asking price, while a jacket on sale costs less than its normal price.