bestsellern.
/ˌbɛs(t)ˈsɛlə/, U.S. /ˌbɛs(t)ˈsɛlər/ 1. An item that is sold in greater numbers than anything else of its type; esp. a book whose sales are the highest of any book in a particular category or during a particular period. Also more loosely: something that sells exceptionally well.Early examples with preceding the or possessive do not necessarily represent the fixed collocation; the establishment of this is shown by use with the indefinite article.The particular association of the word with books follows its widespread adoption in U.S. bookselling contexts from the late 19th cent.
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society > trade and finance > merchandise > [noun] > best-selling goods
bestseller1864
million seller1969
number one1989
society > communication > book > kind of book > books as sold > [noun] > best-seller or quick-seller
bestseller1896
bestsellership1920
quick-seller1926
runaway best-seller1937
runaway1941
megabook1980
megaseller1983
1864 Manch. Guardian 14 Sept. 4/6 (advt.) Messrs. Lucas and Co. have picked out the best sellers from his extensive stock [of cart horses], and they are for unreserved sale.
1883 Sat. Herald (Decatur, Illinois) 1 Dec. (advt.) We have picked out these odd lots—which have been our best sellers—and piled them upon our counters.
1896 Bookman Feb. 545/1 In art books the best sellers were Old Dutch and Flemish Masters, the new five-volume edition of Mrs. Jamieson's works, [etc.].
1900 Dubuque (Iowa) Daily Herald 25 Aug. 3/7 (advt.) $25 to $50 daily easily made by our live agents..selling our latest Novelty Campaign Waterproof Neckties... Write today and secure exclusive territory. Guaranteed best seller.
1903 Frank Leslie's Pop. Monthly Apr. 644/2 A co-operative novel..is bound to be a superior book in every respect, and so it will be a best-seller.
1937 Life 26 July 30/1 (caption) The hat, a classic roll brim (worn up or down), has been a best-seller for five years.
1959 B. Hewitt Theatre U.S.A. vi. 316 It is fiction. Basically as trashy as a best-seller, and as entertaining.
1972 Modelworld Oct. 101/2 The Daimler Scout Car..should be a best seller.
2011 Private Eye 23 Dec. 37/3 (advt.) The Private Eye Annual has become both a seasonal institution and a perennial Christmas bestseller.
2. Originally: an author who has written a bestselling book or books. Later more generally: a person (esp. a creative artist) whose work sells extremely well.
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society > leisure > the arts > literature > writer or author > [noun] > best seller or worst-seller
worst-seller1903
bestseller1907
1907 M. Nicholson Let. 7 Apr. in Bookseller, Newsdealer & Stationer 1 June 462/1 Many of the cities represented [on your letter head]..have reported me as a best seller.
1913 R. W. Chambers Gay Rebellion ii. 28 Go on with the dolly dialogue..you third-rate best seller.
1956 A. Wilson Anglo-Saxon Attitudes ii. i. 200 All the bad writers and painters who aren't even best-sellers.
2004 Times Lit. Suppl. 20 Aug. 16/1 Gould's death coincided with the advent of the commercial CD; he was a posthumous best-seller.
Compounds
General attributive, as bestseller list, etc.
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1905 Out West Oct. 502 Robert Hichens's The Garden of Allah..retains a place on best-seller lists a year after publication.
1925 Punch 20 May 560/1 Fiction of best-seller quality and little more.
1986 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 3 Oct. 13 Some other toys geared for the best-seller list include a new Rubik game called Magic.
2008 G. Hyland Love of Mirrors 225 Would that poetry still had a place on bestseller shelves.
Derivatives
ˌbestˈsellerdom n. the state or fact of being a bestseller; (also) the realm of bestsellers.
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society > communication > book > kind of book > books as sold > [noun] > best-seller or quick-seller > state of
bestsellerdom1910
bestsellership1920
1910 Puck (N.Y.) 16 Mar. McCutch and McGrath are the Muses of Bestsellerdom.
1927 McClure's Oct. 118/2 His latest [book]..is now on its way to best-sellerdom.
1975 Times 20 Sept. 6/5 She [sc. Agatha Christie] also achieved bestsellerdom.
2001 P. Anthony How Precious was that While (2002) 222 He continued with a fine career, in due course achieving hardcover bestsellerdom with his Riverworld series.
ˌbestˈsellership n. the state or fact of being a bestseller.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > book > kind of book > books as sold > [noun] > best-seller or quick-seller
bestseller1896
bestsellership1920
quick-seller1926
runaway best-seller1937
runaway1941
megabook1980
megaseller1983
society > communication > book > kind of book > books as sold > [noun] > best-seller or quick-seller > state of
bestsellerdom1910
bestsellership1920
1920 Chambers's Jrnl. 8 May 363/2 [He] promised to reach the doubtful altitude of best-sellership without difficulty.
1997 New Straits Times (Malaysia) (Nexis) 27 Aug. 8 Almost every book that appears does so with claims of international bestsellership.
ˌbestˈsellerism n. (in publishing) the practice of concentrating effort or attention on bestsellers.
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society > trade and finance > selling > selling or sale of specific things > [noun] > books > practices or systems
subscribing1751
subscription1836
net system1890
remaindering1907
bestsellerism1913
denetting1992
1913 Outlook 21 June 360/2 This is what the advertiser should insist upon rather than..what has been the bane of the American book publishing trade, namely, ‘best-seller-ism’.
2003 Irish Times (Nexis) 8 Feb. 61 We think bestsellerism tends to encourage formulaic and mediocre publishing.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1864