marketing

American  

[mahr-ki-ting] / ˈmɑr kɪ tɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of buying or selling in a market.

2. the total of activities involved in the transfer of goods from the producer or seller to the consumer or buyer, including advertising, shipping, storing, and selling.

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marketing British  

/ ˈmɑːkɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. the provision of goods or services to meet customer or consumer needs

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Other Word Forms

• intermarketing
  adjective
• premarketing
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of marketing

First recorded in 1555–65; market + -ing ¹

Explanation

Marketing is how you go about promoting and selling a product. Any ad campaign is a type of marketing. Marketing has to do with making people aware of what you have to offer, whether it's updated software, a clearance sale, or ice-cold lemonade. If a commercial really makes you want to buy something, the marketing worked. Politicians use marketing in their campaigns to convince voters. Marketing is all about selling — and given how many ads there are everywhere you look, it’s probably one of the most powerful forces in the world.

Related Words

• buying
• commerce
• retailing
• selling