merchant

American  

[mur-chuhnt] / ˈmɜr tʃənt /

noun

1. a person who buys and sells commodities for profit; dealer; trader.

2. a storekeeper; retailer.

   a local merchant who owns a store on Main Street.

3. Chiefly British. a wholesaler.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or used for trade or commerce.

   a merchant ship.

2. pertaining to the merchant marine.

3. Steelmaking. (of bars and ingots) of standard shape or size.

merchant ¹ British  

/ ˈmɜːtʃənt /

noun

1. a person engaged in the purchase and sale of commodities for profit, esp on international markets; trader

2. a person engaged in retail trade

3. (esp in historical contexts) any trader

4. derogatory a person dealing or involved in something undesirable

   a gossip merchant

5. (modifier)

   1. of the merchant navy

      a merchant sailor

   2. of or concerned with trade

      a merchant ship

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verb

1. (tr) to conduct trade in; deal in

Merchant ² British  

/ ˈmɜːtʃənt /

noun

1. Ismail (ˈɪzmeɪəl). 1936–2005, Indian film producer, noted for his collaboration with James Ivory on such films as Shakespeare Wallah (1965), The Europeans (1979), A Room with a View (1986), The Remains of the Day (1993), and The Golden Bowl (2000)

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Other Word Forms

• merchant-like adjective
• merchantlike adjective
• outmerchant noun

Etymology

Origin of merchant

1250–1300; Middle English marchant < Old French marcheant < Vulgar Latin *mercātant- (stem of *mercātāns ), present participle of *mercātāre, frequentative of Latin mercārī to trade, derivative of merx goods

Example Sentences

The company sees potential to expand in merchant software and services, fulfillment and logistics infrastructure, autonomous delivery, and advertising, according to the analysts.

From The Wall Street Journal

The value of the rial, which sent angry merchants onto the streets when it reached 1.4 million to the dollar at the end of last year, has weakened to 1.6 million.

From The Wall Street Journal

The name comes from an estate built on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the early years of the 18th century by Philemon Hemsley, a wealthy merchant and tobacco planter.

From The Wall Street Journal

For several years, I’ve purchased tea from a merchant in Canada.

From The Wall Street Journal

In some areas they control, rebels allow merchants to import cooking oil, rice and wheat from other neighboring countries only if cleared by the Rwandans, residents and traders say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• broker
• dealer
• exporter
• operator
• retailer
• seller
• shipper
• shopkeeper
• trader
• trafficker
• vendor
• wholesaler