monger
Americannoun
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a person who is involved with something in a petty or contemptible way (usually used in combination).
a gossipmonger.
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Chiefly British. a dealer in or trader of a commodity (usually used in combination): cheesemonger.
fishmonger;
cheesemonger.
verb (used with object)
noun
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(in combination except in archaic use) a trader or dealer
ironmonger
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(in combination) a promoter of something unpleasant
warmonger
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of monger
First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun monger(e), mounger, Old English mangere, equivalent to mang(ian) “to trade, act as a monger” (ultimately from Latin mangō “salesman”) + -ere agent noun suffix; cognate with Old Norse, Old High German mangari; see -er 1
Explanation
A monger is a seller, especially of something specific like a fish monger or an iron monger. You can use the noun monger as a word on its own, although it frequently shows up as a suffix, in words like cheesemonger. Monger can also be used as a verb meaning "to sell or peddle." In both cases, the word is a bit old fashioned, used more often these days to describe a person who promotes something hurtful, as in warmonger. The Old English root word is mangere, "merchant or broker," from the Latin mango, "dealer or trader."
Vocabulary lists containing monger
Novel Study: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Chapters 1–7
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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.
Monger said he had spent the last 12 months training 20 hours a week for an Ironman world record charity challenge he successfully completed in October in Hawaii.
From BBC • Nov. 23, 2024
Monger said that when he began training he struggled to run 5km without feeling pain from his prosthetics.
From BBC • Oct. 27, 2024
Former racing driver Billy Monger broke the Ironman record for a double amputee at the World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
From BBC • Oct. 27, 2024
Previous winners include Hillsborough disaster campaigner Anne Williams, charity marathon runner Ben Smith, football fan Bradley Lowery and racing driver Billy Monger.
From BBC • Dec. 21, 2022
To Mr. George Monger and Mr. Malcolm Hamersley I am indebted for their co-operation and advice on all occasions.
From Explorations in Australia, Illustrated, by Forrest, John
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.
