merchant Hear it!

merchant definition

mer·chant (mʉr′c̸hənt)

noun

  1. a person whose business is buying and selling goods for profit; trader, esp. one in the wholesale trade who deals with foreign countries
  2. a person who sells goods at retail; storekeeper; shopkeeper

Etymology: ME marchant < OFr marchant < VL *mercatans, prp. of *mercatare, for L mercari, to trade, buy < merx, wares: see market

adjective

  1. of or used in trade; mercantile; commercial
  2. of the merchant marine

transitive verb

to carry on trade in; deal in

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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