Synonyms of commerce

commerce

noun

ˈkä-(ˌ)mərs 

1

as in marketplace

the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places

a government agency in charge of regulating interstate commerce

Synonyms & Similar Words

• marketplace
• trade
• traffic
• business
• dealings
• retailing
• free trade
• merchandising
• black market
• gray market
• horse-trading
• bartering
• wholesaling
• e-tail

2

as in interaction

doings between individuals or groups

when I was doing outside consulting for the company, I never had much commerce with the in-house staff

Synonyms & Similar Words

• interaction
• relation
• intercourse
• dealings
• interrelationship
• companionship
• cross-fertilization
• cross-pollination
• company

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonintercourse

3

as in sex

sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis

rumors of commerce between the lady and the knight spread throughout the court

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sex
• relations
• intercourse
• mating
• sexuality
• copulation
• sex act
• making love
• coitus
• sexual intercourse
• sexual relations
• coupling
• breeding
• lovemaking
• coition
• congress
• getting it on
• copulating
• fornication
• safe sex
• carnality
• insemination
• dalliance
• hanky-panky
• whoopee

Synonym Chooser

How is the word commerce distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of commerce are business, industry, trade, and traffic. While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

When might business be a better fit than commerce?

The meanings of business and commerce largely overlap; however, business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

Where would industry be a reasonable alternative to commerce?

The words industry and commerce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

When would traffic be a good substitute for commerce?

The synonyms traffic and commerce are sometimes interchangeable, but traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of commerce

Project Kuiper is a subsidiary of Amazon, the online commerce behemoth that billionaire Jeff Bezos founded in 1994. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 17 June 2025

And a new report from the footwear commerce site SportsShoes set out to find out which cities were the best for hikers. —Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2025

And on the heels of the Black Lives Matter movement, the holiday — also known as Jubilee Day, Freedom Day Liberation Day and Emancipation Day — became part of a wider nationwide movement of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across the government, academia and even in commerce. —Vanessa Romo, NPR, 16 June 2025

Best Shake Alternative: Chobani Complete Protein Mixed Berry Vanilla Yogurt Drink SELF’s commerce writer, Jessica Kasparian, was pleasantly surprised by how tasty this Greek yogurt drink was. —Sara Coughlin, SELF, 6 June 2025