merchandise

1 of 2

noun

mer·​chan·​dise ˈmər-chən-ˌdīz 

-ˌdīs

1

: the commodities or goods that are bought and sold in business : wares

sells a variety of spring merchandise

2

archaic : the occupation of a merchant : trade

merchandise

2 of 2

verb

mer·​chan·​dise ˈmər-chən-ˌdīz 

variants or less commonly merchandize

merchandised also merchandized; merchandising also merchandizing

transitive verb

1

: to buy and sell in business

Far from just choosing tasteful red, white and blue clothes, the Olympic initiative involves designing, manufacturing, shipping and merchandising the clothes …

—Rosemary Feitelberg

2

: to promote for or as if for sale

merchandise a movie star

intransitive verb

archaic : to carry on commerce : trade

merchandiser noun

Synonyms of merchandise

Noun

• goods
• commodities

Verb

• sell

Examples of merchandise in a Sentence

Noun

The merchandise will arrive by truck at noon.

He's developed his own brand of merchandise.

Verb

The political candidates are being merchandised to the public.

the now-familiar practice of stores merchandising goods at dramatically lower prices on the day after Thanksgiving

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Last month, Amazon received approval from local officials in a Chicago suburb to construct a big-box store that would offer groceries, household essentials and general merchandise. —Annie Palmer, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026

After gaining traction with sales of sports merchandise and memorabilia, Fanatics in 2021 expanded into betting and gaming. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026

Verb

No matter how they're merchandised, take notice of these home staples. —Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2026

In-store, the line will be merchandised across the young adult floor pad for its fashion and sportswear, with intimates and sleep living on the intimates and sleepwear floor pad. —Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English marchaundise, from Anglo-French marchandise, from marcheant

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for merchandise

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

merchandise

1 of 2 noun

mer·​chan·​dise ˈmər-chən-ˌdīz 

-ˌdīs

: the goods that are bought and sold in trade

merchandise

2 of 2 verb

ˈmər-chən-ˌdīz

merchandised; merchandising

: to buy and sell : trade

especially : to try to improve sales of goods or services by attractive presentation and publicity

merchandiser noun