mer·chant
ˈmər-chənt 
1
: a buyer and seller of commodities for profit : trader
2
: the operator of a retail business : storekeeper
3
: one that is noted for a particular quality or activity : specialist
a speed merchant on the base paths
1
: of, relating to, used in, or engaged in commerce
The city's reputation, though, is as a merchant city in this nation historically known for its traders.—
Peter Theroux
Peter Theroux2
: of, relating to, or used in a merchant marine
part of the merchant fleet
One hundred years ago, a group of 11 senators blocked a bill that would have allowed U.S. merchant ships to arm themselves against German U-boats as World War I raged in Europe.—James Hohmann
James Hohmann
merchanted; merchanting; merchants
: to deal or trade in
archaic
: to deal or trade as a merchant
Synonyms
Examples of merchant in a Sentence
Noun
Merchants traveled hundreds of miles to trade in the city.
a family of wealthy merchants
The town's merchants closed their shops during the parade.
Prizes were given by local merchants.
Recent Examples on the WebAlexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
The merchants’ ailments show the importance of a shopping center’s anchor, observers said.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for merchant 
Noun
One of the merchants selling the company’s products was Hudson-Litchfield Youth Football & Cheer.
—Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
The merchants’ ailments show the importance of a shopping center’s anchor, observers said.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for merchant
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'merchant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near merchant
Cite this Entry
“Merchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merchant. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
merchant
1 of 2 noun
mer·chant
ˈmər-chənt
1
: a buyer and seller of goods for profit
especially
: one who carries on trade on a large scale or with foreign countries
merchant
2 of 2 adjective1
: of, relating to, or used in trade
a merchant ship
2
: of or relating to a merchant marine
Legal Definition
merchant
noun
mer·chant
ˈmər-chənt
: a person who trades in goods especially of a certain kind and possesses expertise in the area of the goods and the practices of trading in them or who employs others with such expertise
a warranty that the goods shall be merchantable is implied in a contract for their sale if the seller is a merchant with respect to goods of that kind—Uniform Commercial Code
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