merchant
MURT-shuhnt
Merchant (noun) means someone who buys and sells goods for profit, especially in large quantities or through trade. Example: “A cloth merchant travelled between the two cities with carts full of silk.”
noun
1
Someone who buys and sells goods for profit, especially in large quantities or through trade.
"A cloth merchant travelled between the two cities with carts full of silk."
"The merchant imported spices from overseas and sold them at the market."
"A wealthy merchant funded the building of the town hall."
2
The owner or operator of a retail business.
"The merchant on the corner sells fruit and vegetables every day."
"Each merchant on the high street decorated the window for the festival."
"Local merchants complained about the new parking restrictions outside their shops."
3
Informal: someone known for a particular habit or type of behaviour, often used disapprovingly.
"Don't listen to him, he's a gossip merchant who loves spreading rumours."
"She called him a speed merchant after he overtook every car."
"He's a bit of a doom merchant, always predicting the worst."
How to use merchant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone whose business is buying and selling goods, or (informally) someone known for a certain kind of behaviour.
Common pairings
merchant ship
local merchant
a merchant of doom
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Word forms
- Plural
- merchants
- Third person singular
- merchants
- Past tense
- merchanted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A cloth _____ travelled between the two cities with carts full of silk.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman marchaunt, from Latin mercor, "to trade or deal" — the same root behind "merchandise" and "market."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
purchaser
Related words
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.
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