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

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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

3

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of commerce Banks were structurally separated from commerce to avoid conflicts of interest. Asad Ramzanali, Time, 6 Oct. 2025 Shift product over to digital commerce and all of a sudden that takes off. Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2025 Established in the 1880s as a railroad hub, the town grew around the rails and quickly became a center for commerce in Nottoway County. Maria Williams, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025 There’s nothing like a burst of citrus to wake up the senses, which is why Allure commerce editor Sarah Han starts her mornings with Origins Refreshing Scrub Cleanser. Lily Wohlner, Allure, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commerce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commerce
Noun
  • The emergence of online marketplaces and persistent demand—especially for products like pangolin scales, rhino horn and ivory—continue to drive the poaching crisis.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The result is a marketplace where first-time and lower-income buyers, often reliant on financing, are outflanked by older, equity-rich, and wealthier competitors.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Most interactions are through the mobile app.
    Laura Layden, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Apple cider vinegar may also come with side effects, such as stomach upset, tooth erosion, low potassium, and medication interactions.
    Sarah Bradley, Health, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The State Department suspended processing applications from Americans seeking to update their passports with a new gender marker in January, shortly after President Trump signed an executive order proclaiming the U.S. recognizes only two unchangeable sexes, male and female.
    Brooke Migdon, The Hill, 5 Sep. 2025
  • President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January saying that the federal government will only recognize two sexes: male and female.
    Sonam Sheth Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This is going to be a focal point right up until the trade deadline.
    Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • However, in August, Carney announced exemptions for goods covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada trade pact.
    Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • These numbers indicate the pressure placed on the blood vessel walls in relation to your heartbeat.
    Angela Ryan Lee, Health, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Those areas include youth investment, violence diversion work, community violence intervention, crime survivor support, reintegration and community-police relations.
    David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • China, India resume flights after five-year hiatus China and India agreed to restart direct flights after a five-year hiatus, the latest sign of thawing relations between the world’s most populous nations.
    Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Buck began her career at Fox News Channel as a media relations coordinator.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2025
  • According to the Federal Trade Commission, Bitcoin ATMs are machines that look like a traditional ATM and are often found at convenience stores, gas stations and other high-traffic areas.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There are alignments of anemia with some of the early modern symptoms of green sickness—though very few people today are likely to think anemia is caused by a blockage of bodily humors curable by intercourse.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 27 Sep. 2025
  • One 2024 survey found that about 60 percent of college students reported having had vaginal intercourse; a 2022 Pew Research survey reported that more than half of all adults under 30 were in a relationship at the time.
    Molly Langmuir, The Atlantic, 25 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Commerce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commerce. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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