merchant
19 synonyms and 1 antonyms for merchant, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Someone who buys and sells goods for profit, especially in large quantities or through trade.
Synonyms
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.
Antonyms
How to use merchant
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman marchaunt, from Latin mercor, "to trade or deal" — the same root behind "merchandise" and "market."
Full origin of merchant →Frequently asked questions
What does “merchant” mean?
The word “merchant” means someone who buys and sells goods for profit, especially in large quantities or through trade. In plain terms, someone whose business is buying and selling goods, or (informally) someone known for a certain kind of behaviour.
How do you pronounce “merchant”?
“Merchant” is pronounced MURT-shuhnt (/ˈmɝt͡ʃənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “merchant” in a sentence?
Here is “merchant” used in a sentence: “The merchant imported spices from overseas and sold them at the market.”
What is another word for “merchant”?
Words with a similar meaning to “merchant” include chandler, chapman, copreman, dealer, huckster and haggler.
What is the opposite of “merchant”?
The opposite of “merchant” — its antonyms — is purchaser.
What part of speech is “merchant”?
“Merchant” is a noun.
Where does the word “merchant” come from?
The word “merchant” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman marchaunt, from Latin mercor, "to trade or deal" — the same root behind "merchandise" and "market.".
Is “merchant” a common word?
“Merchant” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a merchant and a vendor?
A merchant buys and sells goods for profit, often at scale or through ongoing trade, and the word also covers the owner of a retail business. A vendor is anyone selling a particular thing in a particular transaction, from a street seller to a company supplying software. In payments and commerce jargon, however, "merchant" is the standard term for any business that accepts payment.
What is the difference between a merchant and a trader?
Both buy and sell for profit. "Merchant" leans toward goods and established commerce, and can simply mean the owner of a retail business, while "trader" is broader: it covers market stalls and also financial markets, where a trader buys and sells shares or currencies rather than physical goods.