market town

American

noun

a town where a regularly scheduled market is held.

market town British

noun

a town that holds a market, esp an agricultural centre in a rural area

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of market town

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

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.

ASHTON-IN-MAKERFIELD, England—This redbrick northern market town isn’t exactly famed as a British political bellwether.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

It was 01:00 on a Saturday when a sleeping market town was hit by the worst floods in living memory.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Merthyr Mawr estate in Bridgend was used as the Holmes' English estate, with filming also taking place in the market town of Monmouth and at Margam Park, near Port Talbot.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

Following a tip-off, Noble headed to the police station in the historic market town of Aylsham, more than an hour's drive from Andrew's home.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

I thus gave no indication of having had a disturbed night when I thanked the landlord and took my leave to explore the market town of Taunton.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023