com·mer·cial
kə-ˈmər-shəl 
1
a(1)
: occupied with or engaged in commerce or work intended for commerce
a commercial artist
(2)
: of or relating to commerce
commercial regulations
commercial services
(3)
: characteristic of commerce
commercial weights
(4)
: suitable, adequate, or prepared for commerce
found oil in commercial quantities
b(1)
: being of an average or inferior quality
commercial oxalic acid
show-quality versus commercial cattle
(2)
: producing artistic work of low standards for quick market success
2
a
: viewed with regard to profit
a commercial success
of no commercial value
b
: designed for a large market
commercial coffee production
3
: emphasizing skills and subjects useful in business
a commercial school
4
: supported by advertisers
commercial TV
plural commercials
: an advertisement included with another broadcast (as on radio, television, or a podcast)
Synonyms
Examples of commercial in a Sentence
Adjective
Their music is too commercial.
The average American sees and hears thousands of commercial messages each day.
Noun
a commercial for a new kind of soap
Recent Examples on the Web
Todd Spangler, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
But limits were placed on the company’s commercial life.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2023
The five employees killed were Joshua Barrick, 40, a senior vice president; Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer; Thomas Elliott, 63, also a senior vice president; Juliana Farmer, 45, a loan analyst; and Jim Tutt Jr., 64, a commercial real estate market executive.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023
In October, press reports confirmed that BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC which produces Top Gear, had reached a compensation settlement of 9 million pounds ($11.3 million) for the injuries that Flintoff sustained.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023
The agency also formed a committee to develop recommendations for pilots dealing with mental health concerns after an off-duty pilot last month was accused of trying to shut down the engines of a commercial flight.
—Lori Aratani, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
While OpenAI began as a nonprofit in 2015, four years later Altman, shortly after becoming CEO, created a commercial arm—which was governed by the nonprofit parent.
—Bysteve Mollman, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2023
Blocky silhouettes and bulky geometric shapes are cropping up in residential and commercial projects alike, but designers are softening the overall look with natural textures and elegant materials.
—Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 2023
Elsewhere, other categories have five — even six or seven — nods, but urbano, despite being one of the biggest commercial forces in the Latin industry, is surprisingly bare-boned.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2023
Martha C. White, wsj.com, 22 Nov. 2023
Rain and wife, actor, Kim Tae Hee on the set of a joint commercial.
—Liz Calvario, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023
But this was a decade-long relationship where David Foulds and I worked back-to-back on a whole bunch of Pepsi commercials.
—Jamie Bryan, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2023
But with the drama unfolding so quickly in Dallas, a shocked nation took in the raw video feeds that preempted all regular TV programming and canceled $19 million worth of commercials time (equivalent to $191 million today when adjusted for inflation).
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023
The black-and-white leather jacket that the pop and R&B superstar wore in a 1984 Pepsi commercial became the center of attention, standing out as one of the most exciting items on the block.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
His status afforded him perks such as private jet flights, $1,200 hotel stays and a cameo in an FTX Super Bowl commercial opposite Larry David.
—Eli Tan, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2023
Travis Kelce’s presence in a vaccine commercial potentially makes people aware of the idea of getting the Covid and flu shots at the same time, which public health officials are promoting.
—Christopher Morse, STAT, 2 Nov. 2023
November 13 to 19: Shu Uemura Art of Hair makes outstanding treatments that'll make sure your hair looks as smooth, sleek, and healthy as a model in a hair commercial.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 11 Nov. 2023
See More
Adjective
According to reports, Altman and the previous OpenAI board clashed over his desire to expand OpenAI’s for-profit commercial prospects, which the board members felt was at odds with the goal of ensuring AI safety.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
But limits were placed on the company’s commercial life.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2023
The five employees killed were Joshua Barrick, 40, a senior vice president; Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer; Thomas Elliott, 63, also a senior vice president; Juliana Farmer, 45, a loan analyst; and Jim Tutt Jr., 64, a commercial real estate market executive.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023
In October, press reports confirmed that BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC which produces Top Gear, had reached a compensation settlement of 9 million pounds ($11.3 million) for the injuries that Flintoff sustained.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023
The agency also formed a committee to develop recommendations for pilots dealing with mental health concerns after an off-duty pilot last month was accused of trying to shut down the engines of a commercial flight.
—Lori Aratani, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
While OpenAI began as a nonprofit in 2015, four years later Altman, shortly after becoming CEO, created a commercial arm—which was governed by the nonprofit parent.
—Bysteve Mollman, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2023
Blocky silhouettes and bulky geometric shapes are cropping up in residential and commercial projects alike, but designers are softening the overall look with natural textures and elegant materials.
—Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 2023
Elsewhere, other categories have five — even six or seven — nods, but urbano, despite being one of the biggest commercial forces in the Latin industry, is surprisingly bare-boned.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2023
Noun
That’s because these member-owned, nonprofits don’t typically buy pricey, prime-time commercials or shell out to slap their names on sports arenas.
—Martha C. White, wsj.com, 22 Nov. 2023
Rain and wife, actor, Kim Tae Hee on the set of a joint commercial.
—Liz Calvario, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023
But this was a decade-long relationship where David Foulds and I worked back-to-back on a whole bunch of Pepsi commercials.
—Jamie Bryan, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2023
But with the drama unfolding so quickly in Dallas, a shocked nation took in the raw video feeds that preempted all regular TV programming and canceled $19 million worth of commercials time (equivalent to $191 million today when adjusted for inflation).
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023
The black-and-white leather jacket that the pop and R&B superstar wore in a 1984 Pepsi commercial became the center of attention, standing out as one of the most exciting items on the block.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
His status afforded him perks such as private jet flights, $1,200 hotel stays and a cameo in an FTX Super Bowl commercial opposite Larry David.
—Eli Tan, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2023
Travis Kelce’s presence in a vaccine commercial potentially makes people aware of the idea of getting the Covid and flu shots at the same time, which public health officials are promoting.
—Christopher Morse, STAT, 2 Nov. 2023
November 13 to 19: Shu Uemura Art of Hair makes outstanding treatments that'll make sure your hair looks as smooth, sleek, and healthy as a model in a hair commercial.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 11 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commercial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Noun
1935, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing commercial
Dictionary Entries Near commercial
Cite this Entry
“Commercial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commercial. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
commercial
1 of 2 adjective
com·mer·cial
kə-ˈmər-shəl
1
: of or relating to commerce
2
: designed mainly for profit
especially
: designed for mass appeal
the commercial theater
3
: paid for by advertisers
commercial TV
commercial
2 of 2 noun
: an advertisement broadcast on radio or television
Legal Definition
commercial
adjective
com·mer·cial
: of or relating to commerce
commercial regulations
commercially
adverb
More from Merriam-Webster on commercial
Nglish: Translation of commercial for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of commercial for Arabic Speakers
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