English Explanatory Dictionary

merchant

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A person who traffics in commodities for profit.
  2. The owner or operator of a retail business.
  3. A trading vessel; a merchantman.
  4. Someone who is noted for a stated type of activity or behaviour.
  5. A supercargo.
verb
  1. As a resident of a region, to buy goods from a non-resident and sell them to another non-resident.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɜːtʃənt/ /ˈmɝt͡ʃənt/ en-us-merchant.ogg

Word forms

merchant merchants marchant merchaunt merchanting merchanted

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *merks Latin merx Latin mercor Latin mercānsder. Anglo-Norman marchauntbor. Middle English marchaunt English merchant From Middle English marchaunt, from Anglo-Norman marchaunt, from mercans, from the verb mercor (“to trade, deal, sell”).

Synonyms

chandler chapman copreman dealer huckster haggler hawker merchant monger peddler retailer salesperson seller shopkeeper shoppie storekeep trader vendor

Antonyms

purchaser

Related words

mercantile merchandise trade

Derived words

caper merchant coal merchant country merchant dole merchant fanny merchant feather merchant Happy Merchant hop merchant knockout merchant law merchant merchantability merchantable merchant bank merchant banker merchant ensign merchantess merchant flag merchant fleet merchanthood merchant iron merchantish merchantlike merchantly merchantman merchant marine merchant mariner merchant navy merchant of death merchant prince merchantry merchant seaman merchant ship merchant shipping merchant tailor merchant venturer merchantwoman nonmerchant rip-off merchant scrap merchant skin merchant sleaze-merchant speed merchant spin merchant timber merchant Turkey merchant wind-up merchant winemerchant wine merchant
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