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

They’ve said the money will come from a mix of sources, including corporate sponsors, ticket sales, merchandise, the federal government and the International Olympic Committee.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

Billboards abound, there are signs outside bars and stores are churning out tournament-themed merchandise.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Morgan Stanley forecasts StubHub could see gross merchandise sales rise between 1.3% to 9.1% based solely on the global soccer tournament.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

Gross merchandise volume is expected to come in between $35.5 billion and $35.6 billion, also missing Wall Street estimates for $38.35 billion.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Sometimes I would stop in my tracks to stare at a department store window filled with lavish displays of merchandise, from clothing and jewelry to appliances.

From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson

Related Words

• commodity
• material
• product
• stock
• stuff