merchant

American  

[mur-chuhnt] / ˈmɜr tʃənt /

noun

1. a person who buys and sells commodities for profit; dealer; trader.

2. a storekeeper; retailer.

   a local merchant who owns a store on Main Street.

3. Chiefly British.  a wholesaler.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or used for trade or commerce.

   a merchant ship.

2. pertaining to the merchant marine.

3. Steelmaking.  (of bars and ingots) of standard shape or size.

merchant ¹ British  

/ ˈmɜːtʃənt /

noun

1. a person engaged in the purchase and sale of commodities for profit, esp on international markets; trader

2. a person engaged in retail trade

3. (esp in historical contexts) any trader

4. derogatory  a person dealing or involved in something undesirable

   a gossip merchant

5. (modifier)

   1. of the merchant navy

      a merchant sailor

   2. of or concerned with trade

      a merchant ship

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verb

1. (tr) to conduct trade in; deal in

Merchant ² British  

/ ˈmɜːtʃənt /

noun

1. Ismail (ˈɪzmeɪəl). 1936–2005, Indian film producer, noted for his collaboration with James Ivory on such films as Shakespeare Wallah (1965), The Europeans (1979), A Room with a View (1986), The Remains of the Day (1993), and The Golden Bowl (2000)

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Other Word Forms

• merchant-like adjective
• merchantlike adjective
• outmerchant noun

Etymology

Origin of merchant

1250–1300; Middle English marchant < Old French marcheant < Vulgar Latin *mercātant- (stem of *mercātāns ), present participle of *mercātāre, frequentative of Latin mercārī to trade, derivative of merx goods

Example Sentences

A spokeswoman referred questions to the company’s status page, which said that merchants might experience difficulties logging into the point-of-sale system and other problems that the company was investigating.

From The Wall Street Journal

Independent masters articulated grievances through “producerism”—the belief that labor created all value and merchants were parasites.

From The Wall Street Journal

It has thwarted explorers and stifled merchants’ ambitions.

From The Wall Street Journal

That has forced them to turn to informal money merchants who charge enormous commissions to turn digital transfers into cash.

From BBC

Harnett found an enthusiastic clientele among merchants and industrialists who appreciated his male themes and appealing arrangements; they proudly hung his works in offices, stores and saloons.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• broker
• dealer
• exporter
• operator
• retailer
• seller
• shipper
• shopkeeper
• trader
• trafficker
• vendor
• wholesaler