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.

See Examples For:

market town

Dione Frost, organiser of the event in the small market town in West Yorkshire, says it's the biggest yet.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

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

Retired lorry driver Stephen Doughty, flew into parking rage when he feared he would get a ticket from the lone warden in a market town.

From BBC ● Apr. 22, 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

But now the market town of Great Wexly loomed before us, as if it had sprung from the ground.

From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi

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