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

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

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

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

Ask your fish monger if it can be eaten raw 5.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2023

Surf and turf at Salt & Iron, the PNW’s finest sushi at SanKai, The Mar-ket fish monger and eatery where lobster rolls are a crowd favorite, among others.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 8, 2022

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

There are none either that afford the quack or patent-nostrum monger a larger field for the practice of his fiendish gifts.

From Dogs and All about Them by Leighton, Robert