noun
Uncommon
mart
maht
Mart (noun) means a shop, store, or market, especially one selling a wide range of goods. Example: “The corner mart stayed open all night.”
noun
1
A shop, store, or market, especially one selling a wide range of goods.
"FedMart, Walmart, Kmart, Kwik-E-Mart"
"The corner mart stayed open all night."
"They picked up snacks at a local mart on the drive home."
"The new mart in town sells everything from tools to fresh bread."
How to use mart
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shortened, slightly old-fashioned or informal word for a market or shop — often seen in store names like "K-Mart."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
corner mart
flea mart
discount mart
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Word forms
- Plural
- marts
- Third person singular
- marts
- Past tense
- marted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The corner _____ stayed open all night.
Etymology
From Middle Dutch mart or markt ("market"), tracing back to Latin mercatus — the same root that gives us "market" and "merchant."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for mart
See all rhymes for mart →Frequently asked questions
What does “mart” mean?
The word “mart” means a shop, store, or market, especially one selling a wide range of goods. In plain terms, a shortened, slightly old-fashioned or informal word for a market or shop — often seen in store names like "K-Mart.".
How do you pronounce “mart”?
“Mart” is pronounced maht (/mɑɹt/ in IPA).
How do you use “mart” in a sentence?
Here is “mart” used in a sentence: “The corner mart stayed open all night.”
What part of speech is “mart”?
“Mart” is a noun.
Where does the word “mart” come from?
The word “mart” comes from Latin. From Middle Dutch mart or markt ("market"), tracing back to Latin mercatus — the same root that gives us "market" and "merchant.".
Is “mart” a common word?
“Mart” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a mart and a market?
A mart is a shop, store, or market that typically sells a wide range of goods under one roof, while a market more often refers to an open space or event, such as a farmers' market, where multiple vendors sell separately. In modern usage, mart is frequently used as part of a store's name, such as a supermarket chain.
Is mart a formal or informal word for a market?
Mart is a shorter, more casual-sounding term, often used commercially as part of a store name rather than in formal writing. Market remains the more neutral, general-purpose term for a place where goods are bought and sold.
Why does mart appear in the names of some large stores?
Because mart simply means a shop or market selling a wide range of goods, it works well as a short, memorable suffix for retail brand names. Its brevity makes it easy to combine with another word to form a store name.
