mer·chant
ˈmər-chənt 
1
: a buyer and seller of commodities for profit : trader
2
: the operator of a retail business : storekeeper
3
: one that is noted for a particular quality or activity : specialist
a speed merchant on the base paths
1
: of, relating to, used in, or engaged in commerce
The city's reputation, though, is as a merchant city in this nation historically known for its traders.—
Peter Theroux
Peter Theroux2
: of, relating to, or used in a merchant marine
part of the merchant fleet
One hundred years ago, a group of 11 senators blocked a bill that would have allowed U.S. merchant ships to arm themselves against German U-boats as World War I raged in Europe.—James Hohmann
James Hohmann
merchanted; merchanting; merchants
: to deal or trade in
archaic
: to deal or trade as a merchant
Synonyms
Examples of merchant in a Sentence
Noun
Merchants traveled hundreds of miles to trade in the city.
a family of wealthy merchants
The town's merchants closed their shops during the parade.
Prizes were given by local merchants.
Recent Examples on the WebAlexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
The merchants’ ailments show the importance of a shopping center’s anchor, observers said.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
But on the north end, merchants in the Westgate Entertainment District will have special Ruby Tuesday offerings, ranging from Pour Some Brown Sugar on Me Wings at Shane’s Rib Shack to Paint it Black punch at Johnny’s Chicken & Waffles.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
For example, some merchants may not offer financing for certain types of products or services.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024
Civil lawsuits and other complaints In parallel, Pirch is the subject of more than a dozen civil suits filed in recent weeks by its landlords, customers and at least one merchant.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
His parents apprenticed him to a merchant, but Cook was bored by dry goods.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
For a complete list of all participating wineries, merchants and restaurants, visit https://www.losgatoschamber.com/wine-walk.
—Laura Ness, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
The marketplace has grown into a four-block community venue on Pier View Way west of Coast Highway, with nearly 200 merchants and a music street fair drawing crowds of visitors and residents on Thursday evenings.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
Tope Alake, Bloomberg.com, 23 Dec. 2020
So basically merchant refineries should not be the ones that have to purchase these credits or blend the ethanol.
—Jacob Weisberg, Slate Magazine, 23 Aug. 2017
Noun
One of the merchants selling the company’s products was Hudson-Litchfield Youth Football & Cheer.
—Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
The merchants’ ailments show the importance of a shopping center’s anchor, observers said.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
But on the north end, merchants in the Westgate Entertainment District will have special Ruby Tuesday offerings, ranging from Pour Some Brown Sugar on Me Wings at Shane’s Rib Shack to Paint it Black punch at Johnny’s Chicken & Waffles.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
For example, some merchants may not offer financing for certain types of products or services.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024
Civil lawsuits and other complaints In parallel, Pirch is the subject of more than a dozen civil suits filed in recent weeks by its landlords, customers and at least one merchant.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
His parents apprenticed him to a merchant, but Cook was bored by dry goods.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
For a complete list of all participating wineries, merchants and restaurants, visit https://www.losgatoschamber.com/wine-walk.
—Laura Ness, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
The marketplace has grown into a four-block community venue on Pier View Way west of Coast Highway, with nearly 200 merchants and a music street fair drawing crowds of visitors and residents on Thursday evenings.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
Adjective
OPay currently processes about 80% of bank transfers among mobile money operators in Nigeria and 20% of non-merchant point of sales transactions, Akpan said.
—Tope Alake, Bloomberg.com, 23 Dec. 2020
So basically merchant refineries should not be the ones that have to purchase these credits or blend the ethanol.
—Jacob Weisberg, Slate Magazine, 23 Aug. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'merchant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near merchant
Cite this Entry
“Merchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merchant. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
merchant
1 of 2 noun
mer·chant
ˈmər-chənt
1
: a buyer and seller of goods for profit
especially
: one who carries on trade on a large scale or with foreign countries
merchant
2 of 2 adjective1
: of, relating to, or used in trade
a merchant ship
2
: of or relating to a merchant marine
Legal Definition
merchant
noun
mer·chant
ˈmər-chənt
: a person who trades in goods especially of a certain kind and possesses expertise in the area of the goods and the practices of trading in them or who employs others with such expertise
a warranty that the goods shall be merchantable is implied in a contract for their sale if the seller is a merchant with respect to goods of that kind—Uniform Commercial Code
Uniform Commercial CodeLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share