best-seller

IPA/bˈɛstsˈɛlə/
IPA/bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ/

best-seller — noun

1. a book that sells in extremely large numbers, far more than most other books, an

1.nounB1
Definition

a book that sells in extremely large numbers, far more than most other books, and is often listed on published charts of the most popular titles

Example

Nala's first novel became an instant best-seller in her home country.

became an instant best-seller

The bookshop window displayed the top ten best-sellers of the month.

top ten best-sellers of the month

Common collocations
  • instant best-seller
  • runaway best-seller
  • international best-seller
  • national best-seller
  • hit the best-seller list
  • top the best-seller list
Synonyms
  • blockbuster

    more informal and often used for movies or entertainment hits rather than books specifically

  • top-seller

    a direct synonym but slightly less common in publishing contexts

Antonyms
  • flop

    a book that sells very few copies; informal

  • dud

    a book that fails to attract readers; informal

Common Mistakes

This is a best-selling book' (using the hyphenated adjective as a noun).
This is a best-seller.
'best-selling' is the adjective form; 'best-seller' is the noun.

2. any product, such as a toy, electronic device, or household item, that sells in

2.nounB2
Definition

any product, such as a toy, electronic device, or household item, that sells in very large numbers compared to similar products

Example

The latest gaming console turned out to be a best-seller during the holiday season.

be a best-seller during [period]

Chiara's new line of skincare products became the company's biggest best-seller.

Common collocations
  • become a best-seller
  • prove a best-seller
  • company best-seller
  • seasonal best-seller
Synonyms
  • top-seller

    interchangeable but less tied to the book etymology

  • hot product

    informal; emphasizes current popularity rather than total sales volume

  • hit

    more common for entertainment products like toys or games

Antonyms
  • failure

    a product that does not sell well; neutral register

  • flop

    informal; a product that sells poorly despite expectations

Usage Note

This sense extends from the original book-focused meaning. It is most natural with physical retail goods; for digital products or services, alternatives like 'top seller' or 'top-rated' are more common.

Common Mistakes

The streaming service is a best-seller in our country.
The streaming service is the most popular one in our country.
'best-seller' is used for physical products, not services or subscriptions.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe something very popular and commercially successful, but they differ in scope and register. "Best-seller" is the most specific to measurable sales figures and is the standard term in publishing. "Blockbuster" comes from cinema — it originally described a bomb big enough to destroy a city block — and carries a sense of explosive, wide-audience success across entertainment (movies, novels, video games). "Hit" is the broadest and most informal, used for any popular song, show, product, or even a restaurant dish. "Smash" (or "smash hit") is more emphatic and slightly dated, suggesting overwhelming, undeniable success. For books specifically: a novel that sells 100,000 copies is a best-seller; if it also dominates cultural conversation, it may become a blockbuster. To say "her cookbook was a surprise hit" focuses on the unexpected popularity rather than the sales numbers.

best-seller ↗blockbuster ↗hit ↗smash ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • best-seller list
  • best-seller status
  • best-seller chart

Phrases

  • become a best-seller
  • hit the best-seller list
  • top the best-seller chart
  • prove a best-seller

Prepositions

  • on the best-seller list

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The term 'best-seller' is a compound of 'best' (from Old English 'betst', meaning of the highest quality) and 'seller' (from 'sell,' Old English 'sellan', meaning to give or hand over). It was first used in the late 19th century by the American magazine 'The Bookman', which began publishing lists of the most popular books. The word originally referred only to books and later expanded to cover any top-selling product in retail.