commerce
12 synonyms for commerce, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The large-scale buying and selling of goods and services, especially between businesses or regions.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use commerce
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
e-commerce
chamber of commerce
international commerce
Etymology
From Middle French commerce, from Latin commercium ("trade"), from com- + merx ("merchandise").
Full origin of commerce →Frequently asked questions
What does “commerce” mean?
The word “commerce” means the large-scale buying and selling of goods and services, especially between businesses or regions. In plain terms, trade — the buying and selling of goods and services on a significant scale.
How do you pronounce “commerce”?
“Commerce” is pronounced KOM-uhs (/ˈkɑ.mɚs/ in IPA).
How do you use “commerce” in a sentence?
Here is “commerce” used in a sentence: “The new highway boosted commerce between the two cities.”
What part of speech is “commerce”?
“Commerce” is a noun.
Where does the word “commerce” come from?
The word “commerce” comes from Latin. From Middle French commerce, from Latin commercium ("trade"), from com- + merx ("merchandise").
Is “commerce” a common word?
“Commerce” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between commerce and trade?
Trade can describe any exchange of goods or services, including a single transaction between two parties. Commerce is broader, referring to the whole system of large-scale buying and selling, especially between businesses, regions, or countries.
What is the difference between commerce and business?
Business usually refers to the activity or organisation of a particular company or person. Commerce describes the wider exchange of goods and services across an economy, so an individual business takes part in commerce.
Is e-commerce the same as commerce?
E-commerce is a form of commerce carried out online rather than a separate concept. The 'e' stands for electronic, so e-commerce simply means buying and selling goods and services over the internet.
