commerce

1 of 2

noun

com·​merce ˈkä-(ˌ)mərs How to pronounce commerce (audio)
1
: social intercourse : interchange of ideas, opinions, or sentiments
… a negotiated peace that will reestablish intellectual commerce among them …P. B. Rice
2
: the exchange or buying and selling of commodities on a large scale involving transportation from place to place
a major center of commerce
interstate commerce
3

commerce

2 of 2

verb

com·​merce ˈkä-(ˌ)mərs How to pronounce commerce (audio)
kə-ˈmərs
commerced; commercing
Choose the Right Synonym for commerce

business, commerce, trade, industry, traffic mean activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities.

business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

Examples of commerce in a Sentence

Noun He was the Secretary of Commerce under the last President. a government agency in charge of regulating interstate commerce
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In 1948, Henry Wallace, the former agriculture secretary, commerce secretary, and vice president under President Franklin Roosevelt, bolted from the Democratic Party, took leadership of a new Progressive Party, and challenged President Harry Truman in the general election. Benn Steil, Foreign Affairs, 19 Mar. 2024 Additional reporting by: Katrina Cossey is a commerce writer, enthusiastic shopper, and devoted mom. Julie Evans, Parents, 12 Mar. 2024 Differentiating the market from the Indian government’s Film Bazaar in Goa, Bedi says that that market is part of a film festival mostly populated by filmmakers, whereas the focus in Mumbai, the capital of the Bollywood film industry, is about commerce. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 The Paraguay River is the lifeblood of this landlocked nation, used for commerce and providing food and recreation. Laurence Blair, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Mercury was the Roman god of fine arts, commerce and financial success. Katie Hunt, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024 Seeking to carve out a slice of Hollywood’s growing interest in golf and golf content, a new media and commerce startup called Pro Shop has raised nearly $20 million to expand the sport’s presence in the entertainment world. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 Available in sizes 5 to 12. 2 Brooks Ghost 15 GTX Best for Running: SELF’s commerce writer owns two pairs of Brooks Ghosts. Hannah Singleton, SELF, 4 Mar. 2024 Take Our Word For It is a contributing commerce writer for PEOPLE and has written for publications such as Byrdie, InStyle, The Spruce, NYLON, and more. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
Closing the section was a huge disturbance to I-95, an artery to travel and commerce up the east coast that's driven on by an average of 160,000 vehicles daily, according to PennDOT. Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 21 June 2023 What will commerce tools enable in the future? Arjun Kapur, Forbes, 20 May 2021 Failure risks major disruption to commerce with the U.K.’s largest trading partner when the Brexit transition period ends on Dec. 31. Joe Mayes, Bloomberg.com, 23 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commerce.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle French, from Latin commercium, from com- + merc-, merx merchandise

First Known Use

Noun

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of commerce was in 1537

Dictionary Entries Near commerce

Cite this Entry

“Commerce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commerce. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

commerce

noun
com·​merce
ˈkäm-(ˌ)ərs
: buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places : trade
Etymology

Noun

from early French commerce "exchange of ideas or opinions, commerce," from Latin commercium (same meaning), from com- "with" and merc-, merx "merchandise" — related to market, merchant

Legal Definition

commerce

noun
com·​merce
1
: the exchange or buying and selling of goods, commodities, property, or services especially on a large scale and involving transportation from place to place : trade sense 2 see also commerce clause, Fair Labor Standards Act
2
: the act of engaging in sexual intercourse

More from Merriam-Webster on commerce

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!