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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 © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business merchant definition - business

law merchant definition - legal

merchant Synonyms

merchant

n.

trader, storekeeper, retailer, shopkeeper, wholesaler, salesman, handler, sender, consignor, exporter, shipper, dealer, local representative, jobber, tradesman; see also businessperson.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

merchant Usage Examples

Possessives

  • builder: Then a local builder's merchant built a hall on the far side, closing up the open view across the pit.

Adjective modifier

  • wealthy: Her father was one of Britain's wealthiest merchants.

Modifies a noun

  • shipping: Brown started his career in merchant shipping, working his way up the ranks.

Noun used with modifier

  • builder: Contact a builder merchant directly or search using the internet.
merchant usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

merchant quotes

Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

-Bible (NewTestament)

Alas, alas, who's injured by my love? What merchant's ships have my sighs drowned? Who says my tears have overflowed his ground? When did my colds a forward spring remove? When did the heats which my veins fill Add one more to the plaguey bill? Soldiers find wars, and lawyers find out still Litigious men, which quarrels move, Though she and I do love.

-Donne,John

He that is a traveller must have the back of an ass to bear all, atonguelikethetail ofa dog toflatterall, themouthof a hog to eat all what is set before him, the ear of a merchant to hear all and say nothing; and if this be not the highest step of thraldom, there is no liberty or freedom.

-Nashe,Thomas

merchant quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"merchant." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/merchant>

APA Style

merchant. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/merchant

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