noncommercial

British  

/ ˌnɒnkəˈmɜːʃəl /

adjective

1. not of, connected with, or involved in commerce

   noncommercial organizations

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Explanation

The adjective noncommercial describes something — such as an organization or an endeavor — that is not intended for making a profit. In other words, it is not a business. Noncommercial enterprises include things like public libraries, public schools, community theaters, and charitable organizations. They are not designed for generating revenue but for providing a public service or benefit. Many major museums, such as the Smithsonian, are noncommercial institutions. Their primary mission is to collect, preserve, and educate, rather than to make money for owners or shareholders. The money they charge for tickets is typically reinvested back into the museum's operations.

Example Sentences

The holiday “for the rest of us” was popularized by the show as a secular, noncommercial alternative to Christmas that also features an airing of grievances, feats of strength and Festivus miracles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

“Removing bones from the ground without proper field techniques is still a problem with many commercial and noncommercial paleontologists,” Sertich acknowledges.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 20, 2024

That sort of noncommercial output made her record label, the Brazilian subsidiary of Columbia Records, reluctant to spend money in promotion, music writer said Chris Fuscaldo.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 28, 2024

But for noncommercial PBS, the hearings were a major opportunity.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2024

Experts on both sides of the debate worry that compensating patients would lead to profit-seekers inhibiting science by insisting on unrealistic financial agreements or demanding money for tissues used in noncommercial or nonprofit research.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot