merchant

1 of 3

noun

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

merchant

2 of 3

adjective

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

2

: 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

merchant

3 of 3

verb

merchanted; merchanting; merchants

transitive verb

: to deal or trade in

intransitive verb

archaic : to deal or trade as a merchant

Synonyms

Noun

• dealer
• merchandiser
• trader
• tradesman
• trafficker

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 Web

Noun

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

Now, with the new fees, Amazon’s cut will rise above 50% for certain merchants. —Jason Del Rey, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024

The Baltimore Clipper, which could easily outrun British patrols, grew popular among merchants moving high-profit, low-volume goods. —Rafael Vilela, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024

Lawyers for merchants who had brought the case estimate that this could save about $30 billion worth of fees. —Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

From the 15th to the 19th century, at least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped, forcibly transported by European ships and merchants and sold into slavery. —Reuters, NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024

Korean merchants have kept the Slauson swap meet alive for 40 years. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024

Perhaps more important, merchants will be able to raise their prices based on the kind of card. —Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 28 Mar. 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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English marchant, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *mercatant-, mercatans, from present participle of mercatare to trade, frequentative of Latin mercari — more at market

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing merchant

• doom merchant
• merchant bank
• law merchant
• commission merchant
• speed merchant
• merchant ship
• merchant seaman
• merchant marine

Kids 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

2

: storekeeper sense 2

merchant

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or used in trade

a merchant ship

2

: of or relating to a merchant marine

Etymology

Noun

Middle English marchant "merchant," from early French marcheant (same meaning), derived from Latin mercari "to trade," from merc-, merx "merchandise" — related to commerce, market

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