marketplace

noun

mar·​ket·​place ˈmär-kət-ˌplās 

1

a

: an open square or place in a town where markets or public sales are held

b

: market

the marketplace is the interpreter of supply and demand

2

: the world of trade or economic activity : the everyday world

3

: a sphere in which intangible values compete for acceptance

the marketplace of ideas

Synonyms of marketplace

• commerce
• trade
• traffic

Examples of marketplace in a Sentence

Their products must compete in the marketplace.

The company has struggled to survive in a rapidly changing marketplace.

Recent Examples on the Web

Independents posted impressive numbers this weekend, another good one for moviegoing but competitive with blockbuster commercial films in the marketplace. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2026

Fortunately for us, the ability to adapt to changing circumstances remains America’s greatest advantage in the global marketplace. — Ted Leonsis, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026

His main priority will then be to avoid any injury that might compromise his value in the marketplace. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026

The bank upgraded the online marketplace to overweight from neutral. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for marketplace

• aerospace
• anatase
• anyplace
• commonplace
• cyberspace
• database
• diabase
• diastase
• dnase
• elastase
• fireplace
• hyperspace

Kids Definition

marketplace

noun

mar·​ket·​place ˈmär-kət-ˌplās 

1

: an open square or place in a town where markets are held

2

: the world of trade

Legal Definition

marketplace

noun

mar·​ket·​place ˈmär-kət-ˌplās 

: the economic system through which different companies compete with each other to sell their products