monger

American  

[mong-ger, muhng-] / ˈmɒŋ gər, ˈmʌŋ- /

noun

1. a person who is involved with something in a petty or contemptible way (usually used in combination).

   a gossipmonger.

2. Chiefly British. a dealer in or trader of a commodity (usually used in combination): cheesemonger.

   fishmonger;

   cheesemonger.

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verb (used with object)

1. to sell; hawk.

monger British  

/ ˈmʌŋɡə /

noun

1. (in combination except in archaic use) a trader or dealer

   ironmonger

2. (in combination) a promoter of something unpleasant

   warmonger

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Other Word Forms

• mongering
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of monger

First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun monger(e), mounger, Old English mangere, equivalent to mang(ian) “to trade, act as a monger” (ultimately from Latin mangō “salesman”) + -ere agent noun suffix; cognate with Old Norse, Old High German mangari; see -er ¹

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Explanation

A monger is a seller, especially of something specific like a fish monger or an iron monger. You can use the noun monger as a word on its own, although it frequently shows up as a suffix, in words like cheesemonger. Monger can also be used as a verb meaning "to sell or peddle." In both cases, the word is a bit old fashioned, used more often these days to describe a person who promotes something hurtful, as in warmonger. The Old English root word is mangere, "merchant or broker," from the Latin mango, "dealer or trader."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

monger

Kraft mac and cheese, first sold in 1937 for 19 cents a box, was the creation of Chicago cheese monger James L. Kraft, who got his start selling cheese from a horse-drawn wagon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026

Despite his last name and the negative connotation of monger, this intense and angry antihero, played by Michael B. Jordan, captures the sympathy of viewers.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 21, 2021

A third, a seafood monger in his 40s, was infected and later died.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 29, 2020

It was a cesspool only a conspiracy monger could have completely enjoyed.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2020

On entering the bar-room, I found, as I expected, the old tradition monger seated by a special good fire of anthracite, compelling clouds of smoke from a corpulent cigar.

From From Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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