best-selling

IPA/ˌbestˈsel.ɪŋ/
IPA/ˌbestˈsel.ɪŋ/

best-selling — adjective

1. describes a product — for example a book, a video game, or a kitchen gadget — th

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes a product — for example a book, a video game, or a kitchen gadget — that has been bought by more people than most other similar products, and is therefore extremely popular.

Example

The author's debut novel became a best-selling book within its first week.

best-selling + book (common collocation for published works)

Naoko bought the best-selling video game for her younger brother's birthday.

best-selling + video game (product category)

Common collocations
  • best-selling novel / book / author
  • best-selling product / item / device
  • best-selling album / single / song
  • best-selling game / video game
  • best-selling phone / smartphone / car
Synonyms
  • top-selling

    neutral synonym, interchangeable in most contexts; slightly less emphatic about popularity.

  • popular

    broader meaning; can describe people, ideas, or trends, not just sales performance.

  • blockbuster

    informal, used mainly for films and entertainment; stronger connotation of huge commercial success.

Antonyms
  • unpopular

    describes products or items that few people buy or like.

  • slow-selling

    direct opposite in commercial context; indicates that stock moves slowly.

Grammar Patterns

best-selling + noun (product, book, album, device, etc.)

Usage Note

This adjective must be placed immediately before the noun it describes. It cannot be used after a linking verb: say 'a best-selling novel,' not 'the novel is best-selling.' Use the noun 'bestseller' for predicate position instead.

Common Mistakes

This novel is best-selling.
This is a best-selling novel.
best-selling must appear before the noun; use 'bestseller' after a linking verb ('This novel is a bestseller.').
The best-selling of the year is a romance.
The best-selling book of the year is a romance.
best-selling needs a noun to modify; do not use it as a standalone noun phrase.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Best-selling and top-selling are the closest synonyms, both focusing on sales volume and often interchangeable in retail contexts (best-selling car / top-selling car). Popular is broader — it can describe a person, a restaurant, or an idea, whereas best-selling only applies to products that are bought in large quantities. Blockbuster is informal and strongly associated with films and books (a blockbuster movie), implying not just high sales but also cultural impact. Hot-selling is a casual term used in marketing for products currently trending in sales, but it is less standard than best-selling. For example: 'Her debut was a best-selling novel in sixteen countries' vs. 'He is a popular author, but his books are not best-sellers.'

top-sellingpopular ↗blockbuster ↗hot-selling

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • become a best-selling
  • one of the best-selling
  • the best-selling ... of the year

Etymology

Old EnglishModern English

The compound best-selling first appeared in the late 19th century, coined from best (the superlative of 'good', from Old English betst) and selling (the present participle of 'sell', from Old English sellan 'to give, hand over'). It was originally used in the publishing industry to describe books that had sold exceptionally well, and later expanded to cover any popular commercial product.

First known use

1797

1797, in the meaning defined above