commercial

1 of 3

adjective

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

commerciality

kə-ˌmər-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

commercially

kə-ˈmər-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

commercial

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural commercials

: an advertisement included with another broadcast (as on radio, television, or a podcast)

commerciality

3 of 3

noun (2)

com·​mer·​ci·​al·​i·​ty kə-ˌmər-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

ˌkä-ˌmər-ˈsha-

plural -es

: commercial quality

Synonyms of commercial

Adjective

• corporate

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 (1)

a commercial for a new kind of soap

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Before the war, a typical day would see around 100 commercial vessels pass through. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

According to the company, the milestone demonstrates that quantum navigation is ready for commercial aviation and unmanned aerial vehicle deployment. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026

Noun

Critics, including the leadership of SAG-AFTRA, counter that the displacement is already at hand in subtler ways, with background roles and commercials increasingly filled by digital doubles rather than human performers. — Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Once the darling of the NBA, the next heartthrob to splash on posters and commercials, the acrobatic point guard concedes he is viewed negatively. — Jason Quick, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see commerce entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun (1)

1935, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing commercial

• anti-commercial
• commercial announcement
• commercial bank
• commercial break
• commercial paper
• commercial traveler
• ultra-commercial

Rhymes for commercial

• inertial
• controversial
• noncommercial
• noncontroversial
• uncontroversial

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

commercially

-ˈmərsh-(ə-)lē 

adverb

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