commercial

1 of 2

adjective

com·​mer·​cial kə-ˈmər-shəl How to pronounce commercial (audio)
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 noun
commercially adverb

commercial

2 of 2

noun

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
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Adjective
Notably, Madison Equities a large downtown commercial real estate landlord, put the Alliance Bank Center and nine other properties up for sale en masse more than a year ago following the death of company principal Jim Crockarell. Mars King, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025 Home and commercial textile manufacturer 1888 Mills has rolled out a new line of 100 percent cotton bath and bedding products, created in partnership with Cotton Incorporated. Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
Elementary school students spent more time in front of the TV than in school, viewing thousands of commercials for sugary cereals, candies and fast foods every year. Alice Callahan, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 Her early career involved voice-over work, musical theater and commercials. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commercial

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see commerce entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of commercial was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commercial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commercial. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

commercial

1 of 2 adjective
com·​mer·​cial kə-ˈmər-shəl How to pronounce commercial (audio)
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 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

More from Merriam-Webster on commercial

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