commerce
1 Americannoun
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an interchange of goods or commodities, especially on a large scale between different countries foreign commerce or between different parts of the same country domestic commerce; trade; business.
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social relations, especially the exchange of views, attitudes, etc.
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sexual intercourse.
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intellectual or spiritual interchange; communion.
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Also called Commerce Department. (initial capital letter) the Department of Commerce.
noun
noun
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the activity embracing all forms of the purchase and sale of goods and services
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social relations and exchange, esp of opinions, attitudes, etc
Usage
What does commerce mean? Commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods and products, especially on a large scale, as in New York City is a major center of commerce where billions of dollars are exchanged every day. The word commerce is almost always used to refer to business, trade, and the movement of things that are being bought and sold. Commerce can refer to either the exchange of goods between countries (international or foreign commerce) or the exchange that occurs within one country (domestic commerce).Much less frequently, commerce is used to mean an exchanging of ideas or views as part of social interaction, as in The club promoted intellectual commerce among the students.Commerce is similar to the word trade and the two words can generally be used as synonyms. Trade describes a more general exchange of goods and money, while commerce describes large-scale trading, such as at an interstate or international level, which requires large numbers of trucks, planes, and other delivery methods.Example: After the war, the small country experienced an increase in commerce with neighboring countries because transporting products was safe again.
Related Words
See trade.
Etymology
Origin of commerce
First recorded in 1530–40; from Middle French, from Latin commercium, from commerc(ārī) “to trade together” (from com- com- + mercārī “to buy, deal, trade,” verb derivative of merc-, stem of merx “commodity, goods, merchandise”) + -ium -ium
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The payments industry is changing faster than ever, driven by new technologies, evolving regulations, an increasingly competitive landscape, and the rapid acceleration of AI that is reshaping commerce daily,” Lores said in a February statement.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
The analyst notes that Shopify delivered over 30% revenue growth in FY25, outpacing the prior two years on “resilient consumer spending dynamics, AI/agentic commerce initiatives, and growing enterprise traction.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow will retain his position as Thailand's top diplomat, as will the ministers of finance and commerce -- all three of whom were also made deputy prime ministers.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
But, said Marcus Warner, a long-time search-and-rescue volunteer in the region and its chamber of commerce president, the overwhelming feeling is sorrow.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
They think of it as commerce, I suppose.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
