merchandise

American  

[mur-chuhn-dahyz, -dahys, mur-chuhn-dahyz] / ˈmɜr tʃənˌdaɪz, -ˌdaɪs, ˈmɜr tʃənˌdaɪz /

Sometimes merchandize

noun

1. the manufactured goods bought and sold in any business.

2. the stock of goods in a store.

3. goods, especially manufactured goods; commodities.

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verb (used without object)

merchandises, present (3rd person singular) merchandised, past participle, past merchandising present participle

1. to carry on trade.

verb (used with object)

merchandises, present (3rd person singular) merchandised, past participle, past merchandising present participle

1. to buy and sell; deal in; trade.

2. to plan or manage the arrangement and promotion of (goods in a store).

   When you merchandise your products, promote impulse purchases by grouping like items.

merchandise British  

noun

1. commercial goods; commodities

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verb

1. to engage in the commercial purchase and sale of (goods or services); trade

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• merchandisable
  adjective
• unmerchandised
  adjective
• merchandiser
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has merchandised
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have merchandised
  perfect
• are merchandising
  progressive
• have been merchandising
  perfect progressive
• am merchandising
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been merchandising
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is merchandising
  progressive 3rd person singular
• merchandises
  singular 3rd person
• merchandising
  participle

Past

• had merchandised
  perfect
• had been merchandising
  perfect progressive
• were merchandising
  progressive plural
• merchandised
  participle
• was merchandising
  progressive singular
• merchandised
  simple

Future

• will merchandise
  simple
• will have merchandised
  perfect
• will be merchandising
  progressive
• will have been merchandising
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of merchandise

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English marchandise, from Old French; see merchant, -ice

Explanation

The noun merchandise refers to things that can be bought or sold, like the merchandise that's for sale at your local record shop, or the merchandise sold by sidewalk vendors in a big city. When you go into a store, you're surrounded by merchandise, whether it's food, clothing, or books. Goods that can be bought or sold are merchandise, and so are items connected with a particular movie or music group — like the t-shirts you can buy at a rock concert's merchandise booth. Merchandise is also a verb, meaning "to promote or advertise" — "Retail stores merchandise goods using displays, signs, or mannequins."

Example Sentences

FIFA's trademarks, names and symbols are protected by penalties for the unauthorized sale of World Cup merchandise.

From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026

Retailers could soon charge people different prices for the same merchandise based on their online behavior.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

There were more than 1,200 crimes against jewelry stores in the U.S. last year, resulting in $140 million in lost merchandise annually.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

Through a Warner Music representative, Landman said the donation was for merchandise given to a friend, and was not intended as support for Pratt’s campaign.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

But, by then, you’ll be a rich merchant, with many camels and a great deal of merchandise.

From "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho

Related Words

• commodity
• material
• product
• stock
• stuff