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.

---

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 /

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

---

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

Football helmet brands traditionally avoid endorsements, arguing players shouldn’t choose safety gear based on commercial interests.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

And the organisers have told commercial rights holder F1 and governing body the FIA that they are prepared to make changes to the venue for next year.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

You got into hip-hop when it was a subculture, and now, with some exceptions, it’s back on the commercial margins.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

Several leading track and field athletes competing at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest last weekend expressed their consternation at Sweeney's commercial, saying it was a misleading representation of how women in sport looked.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

“Right now you’re watching a commercial for shower cleaner.”

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

Before long, she was cast in commercials for Coca-Cola and Twisties, and spent her Christmases singing carols in shopping centres.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

Olivier François is stepping down as global chief marketing officer at Stellantis after a run that was marked by dozens of Super Bowl commercials, including “Imported From Detroit” with Eminem.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

We finally bought it on VHS so we could watch the unedited version without commercials.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Born Aug. 21, 1989, in Palisades, New York, Panettiere began appearing in commercials before her first birthday.

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

I have no idea what life insurance is, but apparently old people need it, because that's who's always on those commercials.

From "Sunny" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

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