merchandise

American  

[mur-chuhn-dahyz, -dahys, mur-chuhn-dahyz] / ˈmɜr tʃənˌdaɪz, -ˌdaɪs, ˈmɜr tʃənˌdaɪz /

Sometimes merchandize

noun

1. the manufactured goods bought and sold in any business.

2. the stock of goods in a store.

3. goods, especially manufactured goods; commodities.

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verb (used without object)

merchandised, merchandising

1. to carry on trade.

verb (used with object)

merchandised, merchandising

1. to buy and sell; deal in; trade.

2. to plan or manage the arrangement and promotion of (goods in a store).

   When you merchandise your products, promote impulse purchases by grouping like items.

merchandise British  

noun

1. commercial goods; commodities

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verb

1. to engage in the commercial purchase and sale of (goods or services); trade

Other Word Forms

• merchandisable adjective
• merchandiser noun
• unmerchandised adjective

Etymology

Origin of merchandise

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English marchandise, from Old French; see merchant, -ice

Explanation

The noun merchandise refers to things that can be bought or sold, like the merchandise that's for sale at your local record shop, or the merchandise sold by sidewalk vendors in a big city. When you go into a store, you're surrounded by merchandise, whether it's food, clothing, or books. Goods that can be bought or sold are merchandise, and so are items connected with a particular movie or music group — like the t-shirts you can buy at a rock concert's merchandise booth. Merchandise is also a verb, meaning "to promote or advertise" — "Retail stores merchandise goods using displays, signs, or mannequins."

Example Sentences

Gross merchandise volume, the total value of all paid transactions between users on eBay’s marketplace platforms, rose 18% to $22.2 billion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

The second-hand marketplace posted a first-quarter profit of $512 million as its gross merchandise volume rose 18%.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

The company attributed the sales performance to an improved customer experience and a better merchandise selection.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

At the end of their gigs, up-and-coming Norwich country-rock band Brown Horse jump from the stage to their merchandise stall.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Locked glass display cases held rings and necklaces and brooches, and a few guitars and banjos hung on the pine-board-paneled walls to diversify the merchandise.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

Related Words

• commodity
• material
• product
• stock
• stuff