commercial

American  

[kuh-mur-shuhl] / kəˈmɜr ʃəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of commerce.

2. engaged in commerce.

3. prepared, done, or acting with sole or chief emphasis on salability, profit, or success.

   a commercial product; His attitude toward the theater is very commercial.

4. able to yield or make a profit.

   We decided that the small oil well was not commercial.

5. suitable or fit for a wide, popular market.

   Communications satellites are gradually finding a commercial use.

6. suitable for or catering to business rather than private use.

   commercial kitchen design; commercial refrigeration.

7. (of a vehicle or its use)

   1. engaged in transporting passengers or goods for profit.

   2. civilian and public, as distinguished from military or private.

8. not entirely or chemically pure.

   commercial soda.

9. catering especially to traveling salespeople by offering reduced rates, space for exhibiting products, etc..

   a commercial hotel.

10. (in U.S. government grading of beef ) graded between standard and utility.

11. paid for by advertisers.

    commercial television.

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noun

commercials plural

1. Radio and Television. a paid advertisement or promotional announcement.

2. (in U.S. government grading of beef )

   1. a low-quality grade of beef between standard and utility.

   2. a cut of beef of this grade.

3. British Informal. a traveling salesperson.

commercial British  

/ kəˈmɜːʃəl, kəˌmɜːʃɪˈælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of, connected with, or engaged in commerce; mercantile

2. sponsored or paid for by an advertiser

   commercial television

3. having profit as the main aim

   commercial music

4. (of goods, chemicals, etc) of unrefined quality or presentation and produced in bulk for use in industry

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noun

1. a commercially sponsored advertisement on radio or television

Synonym Usage

Commercial, mercantile refer to the activities of business, industry, and trade. Commercial is the broader term, covering all the activities and relationships of industry and trade. In a derogatory sense it may mean such a preoccupation with the affairs of commerce as results in indifference to considerations other than wealth: commercial treaties; a merely commercial viewpoint. Mercantile applies to the purchase and sale of goods, or to the transactions of business: a mercantile house or class.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• anticommercialness
  noun
• commerciality
  noun
• anticommercial
  adjective
• countercommercial
  adjective
• noncommercial
  adjective
• precommercial
  adjective
• procommercial
  adjective
• quasi-commercial
  adjective
• semicommercial
  adjective
• supercommercial
  adjective
• ultracommercial
  adjective
• anticommercially
  adverb
• commercially
  adverb
• noncommercially
  adverb
• quasi-commercially
  adverb
• semicommercially
  adverb
• supercommercially
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• commercials
  plural

Etymology

Origin of commercial

First recorded in 1680–90; commerce + -ial

Explanation

Commercial is an adjective describing something with money-making and marketing intentions. If you’re a bit of a book snob, steer clear of commercial fiction, which is written for the widest enjoyment. The adjective commercial first appeared in the 1680’s, long before television commercials, which is probably what you think of when you hear the word. An al was added to commerce, and it meant "pertaining to trade." It wasn’t until the 1870's that commercial meant “done for the sake of financial profit,” and then later in the 1930's, the noun form was refined to describe “an advertisement broadcast on radio or TV.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

commercial commercials

In Europe, its main market, sales fell by 1.3 percent to 821,092 new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

“The strikes further degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels,” Centcom said in a statement.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

Iran also has fired on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil passed before the war.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

The CGF is investing £100m of this, with the remainder coming from commercial revenue streams such as ticketing, sponsorship, broadcast rights and merchandise.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Alex starts singing that commercial jingle about good-smelling shampoo, but in the commercial it’s a girl singing it, and I know the boys are trying to make Alex feel embarrassed.

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée

Filming for commercials in the second quarter was down nearly 22% from last year to 543 days.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

The governing body said they were brought in as a commitment to player welfare, but critics have pointed to broadcasters using the breaks as a way to cash in with commercials.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

Rodrigo Leite of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro told AFP that public figures held more sway than traditional commercials, and that Brazilians needed better financial education.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

That same semester, my friend Paula suggested I take acting jobs in TV commercials for extra income.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Sitting in his corner always made Billy think of commercials being played on television between the rounds.

From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers

Related Words

• economic
• financial
• monetary
• profit-making
• profitable
• wholesale