commerce
Commerce (noun) means the large-scale buying and selling of goods and services, especially between businesses or regions. Example: “The new highway boosted commerce between the two cities.”
How to use commerce
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTrade — the buying and selling of goods and services on a significant scale.
Word forms
commerced past tense, commerces plural, commerces singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The new highway boosted _____ between the two cities.
Etymology
From Middle French commerce, from Latin commercium ("trade"), from com- + merx ("merchandise").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for commerce
See all rhymes for 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.
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