commercial
kuh-MUR-shuhl
Commercial (noun) means a paid advertisement broadcast on television or radio. Example: “My little brother can sing the whole commercial for the cereal by heart.”
noun
1
A paid advertisement broadcast on television or radio.
"My little brother can sing the whole commercial for the cereal by heart."
"We usually mute the television whenever a commercial comes on."
"The commercial for the new phone played during every ad break."
adj
1
Relating to trade, business, or making a profit.
"Her uncle runs a commercial bakery that supplies bread to dozens of cafes."
"The building is zoned for commercial use only."
"The film was a commercial success but a critical failure."
How to use commercial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to buying and selling for profit, or (as a noun) a television/radio advertisement.
Common pairings
commercial break
commercial success
commercial property
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Word forms
- Plural
- commercials
- Comparative
- more commercial
- Superlative
- most commercial
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My little brother can sing the whole _____ for the cereal by heart.
Etymology
From French commercial, from Late Latin commercialis, from Latin commercium ("commerce").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
noncommercial
Related words
Rhymes for commercial
See all rhymes for commercial →Frequently asked questions
What does “commercial” mean?
The word “commercial” means a paid advertisement broadcast on television or radio. In plain terms, relating to buying and selling for profit, or (as a noun) a television/radio advertisement.
How do you pronounce “commercial”?
“Commercial” is pronounced kuh-MUR-shuhl (/kəˈmɝ.ʃəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “commercial” in a sentence?
Here is “commercial” used in a sentence: “The commercial for the new phone played during every ad break.”
What part of speech is “commercial”?
Depending on how it is used, “commercial” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “commercial” come from?
The word “commercial” comes from Late Latin. From French commercial, from Late Latin commercialis, from Latin commercium ("commerce").
Is “commercial” a common word?
“Commercial” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “commercial” have?
“Commercial” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a paid advertisement broadcast on television or radio.
What is the difference between a commercial and an advertisement?
A commercial is one kind of advertisement — specifically a paid ad broadcast on television or radio. 'Advertisement' is the wider term, covering print ads, billboards, online banners, and more. So every commercial is an advertisement, but a newspaper ad or web pop-up is not a commercial.
How long is a typical commercial?
Broadcast commercials are usually 15 or 30 seconds long, with 60-second spots for bigger campaigns and occasional shorter 10-second slots. Airtime is sold in fixed blocks, so advertisers pay by the second. The tight running time is why commercials pack their message into a few memorable moments.
What is an example of a commercial?
A thirty-second spot for a soft drink shown during a football match is a classic commercial, as is a radio jingle advertising a local car dealership between songs. Any paid, timed message a broadcaster airs on behalf of a brand — not the programme itself — counts.
Why do commercials exist?
Commercials pay for programming: the fees advertisers hand broadcasters fund the shows and stations audiences watch or listen to for free. For businesses, they reach large audiences quickly and build brand awareness. This trade — free content in exchange for your attention — underpins commercial television and radio.
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