monger

1 of 2

noun

mon·​ger ˈməŋ-gər  ˈmäŋ- 

1

: broker, dealer

—usually used in combination

alemonger

2

: a person who attempts to stir up or spread something that is usually petty or discreditable

—usually used in combination

warmonger

monger

2 of 2

verb

mongered; mongering ˈməŋ-g(ə-)riŋ 

ˈmäŋ-

transitive verb

: peddle

Did you know?

Peddlers (especially fish merchants) have been called mongers for more than 1000 years. The term traces to a Latin noun meaning "trader." Initially, it was an honorable term, but every profession has its bad apples, and the snake-oil salesmen of the bunch gave monger a bad reputation. By the middle of the 16th century, the term often implied that a merchant was dishonorable and contemptible. Nowadays, monger is typically appended to another word to identify a trader of a particular type. Some combinations (such as fishmonger) suggest respectable commerce, whereas others (such as rumormonger, scandalmonger, and hypemonger) imply that a person is trading or spreading information in a careless or deceptive manner.

Examples of monger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The specialty department will showcase artisan cheeses overseen by cheese mongers, who can provide recommendations for any occasion and craft custom cheese boards, while the grocery section will offer grind-your-own nut butters, bulk coffee and more than 600 products. —Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2025

All wearing matching yellow aprons, they were drawn from the community of makers, mongers and mavens who make up the ranks of the international cheese cognoscenti. —Barry Neild, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025

Verb

And few in the greater Oz area are better at stirring up the populace, stoking their fears and angers, mongering their hate on behalf of a tyrant, better than Morrible. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025

Junior doctor @DrFayeBate shares candid insights into her day-to-day life in healthcare, while debunking myths about TikTok wellness trends for her young female audience, from cycle syncing to the fear mongering around cortisol levels. —Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mongere, from Old English mangere, from Latin mangon-, mango, of Greek origin; akin to Greek manganon charm, philter

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for monger

• hunger
• younger

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!