Merchant: meaning, definitions and examples

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merchant

 

[หˆmษ™หtสƒ(ษ™)nt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

business

A person or company involved in trade or commerce, especially one that sells goods to the public.

Synonyms

retailer, trader, vendor.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
merchant

Primarily used in formal contexts or historical references to describe someone who buys and sells goods in large amounts.

  • The merchant traveled across the seas to trade spices
trader

Can be used to describe someone who buys and sells financial instruments, commodities, or goods. It's common in modern financial contexts.

  • He works as a trader on Wall Street
retailer

Refers to a business or person that sells goods directly to consumers, usually in small quantities.

  • The retailer opened a new store downtown
vendor

Refers to someone who sells goods, often in informal settings like markets or street stalls. It can also be used for businesses that supply goods or services to other businesses.

  • The vendor sold fresh fruits at the market

Examples of usage

  • The merchant at the market had a wide variety of products for sale.
  • Online merchants often offer discounts to attract customers.
Context #2 | Noun

history

In historical contexts, a merchant is someone who is involved in the buying and selling of goods, often traveling long distances to trade.

Synonyms

dealer, entrepreneur, trader.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
merchant

This term is commonly used for someone who buys and sells goods, often in a store or via a platform. It has a traditional and somewhat formal tone.

  • The merchant displayed an array of spices from around the world.
  • The online marketplace connects thousands of merchants with customers.
trader

The term 'trader' is often used for someone who buys and sells financial instruments like stocks, bonds, or currencies. It can also refer to someone who trades goods, particularly in the past.

  • He worked as a trader on Wall Street.
  • Ancient traders traveled great distances to exchange spices and silk.
dealer

This term typically refers to someone who buys and sells specific types of goods, like cars, art, or drugs (in the latter case, it has a negative connotation). It can also be part of business jargon.

  • The car dealer offered me a good price for my old vehicle.
  • She made a substantial profit as an art dealer.
  • The police arrested a drug dealer in the neighborhood.
entrepreneur

This word describes someone who starts and runs their own business, often implying innovation and risk-taking. It has a modern and positive connotation.

  • The young entrepreneur launched a start-up that delivers groceries by drone.
  • As an entrepreneur, she faced many challenges but ultimately succeeded.

Examples of usage

  • During the age of exploration, merchants played a key role in global trade.
  • Medieval merchants traded spices along the Silk Road.

Translations

Translations of the word "merchant" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น comerciante

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคตเฅเคฏเคพเคชเคพเคฐเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Hรคndler

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ pedagang

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั‚ะพั€ะณะพะฒะตั†ัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ kupiec

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ•†ไบบ (ใ—ใ‚‡ใ†ใซใ‚“)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท marchand

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ comerciante

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท tรผccar

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ƒ์ธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชุงุฌุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ obchodnรญk

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ obchodnรญk

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ•†ไบบ (shฤngrรฉn)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ trgovec

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ kaupmaรฐur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัะฐัƒะดะฐะณะตั€

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ•แƒแƒญแƒแƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tacir

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ comerciante

Etymology

The word 'merchant' originated from the Old French 'marchant', which is derived from the Latin 'mercari' meaning 'to trade'. Merchants have been essential figures in the history of commerce, facilitating trade between different regions and cultures. From ancient times to the modern era, merchants have shaped economies and societies through their commercial activities.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,854, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.