an interchange of goods or commodities, especially on a large scale between different countries foreign commerce or between different parts of the same country domestic commerce; trade; business.
social relations, especially the exchange of views, attitudes, etc.
sexual intercourse.
intellectual or spiritual interchange; communion.
Also called Commerce Department. (initial capital letter) the Department of Commerce.
the activity embracing all forms of the purchase and sale of goods and services
social relations and exchange, esp of opinions, attitudes, etc
What does commerce mean? Commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods and products, especially on a large scale, as in New York City is a major center of commerce where billions of dollars are exchanged every day. The word commerce is almost always used to refer to business, trade, and the movement of things that are being bought and sold. Commerce can refer to either the exchange of goods between countries (international or foreign commerce) or the exchange that occurs within one country (domestic commerce). Much less frequently, commerce is used to mean an exchanging of ideas or views as part of social interaction, as in The club promoted intellectual commerce among the students. Commerce is similar to the word trade and the two words can generally be used as synonyms. Trade describes a more general exchange of goods and money, while commerce describes large-scale trading, such as at an interstate or international level, which requires large numbers of trucks, planes, and other delivery methods. Example: After the war, the small country experienced an increase in commerce with neighboring countries because transporting products was safe again.
See trade.
First recorded in 1530–40; from Middle French, from Latin commercium, from commerc(ārī) “to trade together” (from com- com- + mercārī “to buy, deal, trade,” verb derivative of merc-, stem of merx “commodity, goods, merchandise”) + -ium -ium
Commerce is the exchange of goods and services. It's business. Competition between cities wanting to host the Olympics is fierce because the games increase tourism and commerce. Commerce made its way into English from the Latin word commercium — com-, meaning "together," and -mercium, meaning "merchandise." Business, trade, and retailing are all common synonyms. Commerce doesn't always refer to buying and selling, though, just as the marketplace doesn't always refer to goods and services. Data, information, and opinions, too, can be exchanged and traded, as on the Internet, which is a great place for the commerce of ideas.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Across $12 trillion of commerce, every 0.1% of hidden bias is $12 billion a year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
President Harley Finkelstein called the report “the perfect example” of Shopify’s ability to deliver on what merchants need today while investing in agentic commerce and other technologies of the future.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
Alain Di Crescenzo, president of France's chamber of commerce, said business owners were worried.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026
Alain Di Crescenzo, president of France's chamber of commerce, said on Friday that business owners were worried about fresh street violence.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
We set up and operated our own government, we controlled our own arms and we organized our trade and commerce.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
The U.S. trade deficit contracted in September, according to data published by the Commerce Department.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
The British Chamber of Commerce released a new analysis of its members' views on Monday suggesting options for a closer relationship.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
The U.S. economy expanded at its fastest clip in over five years during the third quarter, according to the Commerce Department’s initial reading on GDP.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, which oversees export controls, immediately responded to MarketWatch’s requests for comment.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2026
Perhaps there was some connection between that very early story of him and the fact that he was God of Commerce and the Market, protector of traders.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
