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)
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
Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
However, despite rapid advances in AI models, large-scale commercial deployment remains one of the industry’s biggest challenges.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Mar. 2026
Denise Petski, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
Instead, the carrier said one of its commercials allegedly misled consumers about price increases at both AT&T and Verizon, a claim the advertising regulator also urged T-Mobile to discontinue or change back in January.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commercial
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
When it was built, the mall was part of a trend among commercial builders to create mini downtowns for cities that lacked them.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
However, despite rapid advances in AI models, large-scale commercial deployment remains one of the industry’s biggest challenges.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
In addition to Gersh, Stonestreet continues to be represented by Thruline Entertainment, Range Media Partners (branding & commercials), and Felker Toczek Suddleson McGinnis Ryan LLP.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
Instead, the carrier said one of its commercials allegedly misled consumers about price increases at both AT&T and Verizon, a claim the advertising regulator also urged T-Mobile to discontinue or change back in January.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commercial
Cite this Entry
“Commercial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commercial. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
