Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for commerce

commerce

1

[ kom-ers ]

noun

  1. an interchange of goods or commodities, especially on a large scale between different countries foreign commerce or between different parts of the same country domestic commerce; trade; business.
  2. social relations, especially the exchange of views, attitudes, etc.
  3. sexual intercourse.
  4. intellectual or spiritual interchange; communion.
  5. (initial capital letter) Also called Commerce Department. Informal. the Department of Commerce.


Commerce

2

[ kom-ers ]

noun

  1. a town in SW California.

commerce

/ ˈkɒmɜːs /

noun

  1. the activity embracing all forms of the purchase and sale of goods and services
  2. social relations and exchange, esp of opinions, attitudes, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of commerce1

First recorded in 1530–40; from Middle French, from Latin commercium, from commerc(ārī) “to trade together” (from com- com- + mercārī “to buy, deal, trade,” verb derivative of merc-, stem of merx “commodity, goods, merchandise”) + -ium -ium
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of commerce1

C16: from Latin commercium trade, from commercārī, from mercārī to trade, from merx merchandise
Discover More

Synonym Study

See trade.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Trump allies, including Howard Lutnick, a Wall Street executive he tapped for commerce secretary, have acknowledged that tariffs could cause short-term pain for consumers but will be worth the eventual gains for U.S. manufacturers.

From Salon

He has donated $1 million to Trump's super PAC in recent years, The New York Times reported — one of many commerce secretaries that have donated to presidential campaigns.

From Salon

Fouladi said he hoped key leaders in California agriculture, industry and chambers of commerce would highlight the vital role immigrants have played in boosting the state’s economy.

The federal lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, which includes additional allegations of wrongdoing, seeks a permanent injunction to prevent future violations of FTC regulations and a 2010 law that regulates online commerce.

The community of about 59,000 residents — largely Latino — sits on the edge of global commerce just north of the bridge, which spans the main waterway reaching Los Angeles’ port terminals.

Advertisement

Discover More

More About Commerce

What does commerce mean?

Commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods and products, especially on a large scale, as in New York City is a major center of commerce where billions of dollars are exchanged every day. 

The word commerce is almost always used to refer to business, trade, and the movement of things that are being bought and sold. Commerce can refer to either the exchange of goods between countries (international or foreign commerce) or the exchange that occurs within one country (domestic commerce).

Much less frequently, commerce is used to mean an exchanging of ideas or views as part of social interaction, as in The club promoted intellectual commerce among the students.

Commerce is similar to the word trade and the two words can generally be used as synonyms. Trade describes a more general exchange of goods and money, while commerce describes large-scale trading, such as at an interstate or international level, which requires large numbers of trucks, planes, and other delivery methods.

Example: After the war, the small country experienced an increase in commerce with neighboring countries because transporting products was safe again. 

Where does commerce come from?

The first records of commerce come from around 1530. It ultimately comes from the Latin commercium, meaning “to trade together.” Commercium combines the prefix com-, meaning “together,” and mercārī, meaning “to buy or deal.” Commerce involves the buying and selling of merchandise and many other items.

Trade and business have been important for much of human history, encouraging exploration and bringing back new ideas, as well as products. Today, international and domestic commerce have strongly affected what countries do and how they interact with each other.

For example, the citizens of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in 2016 in what is commonly referred to as Brexit. Fears that Brexit would weaken commerce between the UK and the rest of Europe haunted negotiations for years, with the UK struggling to reach an acceptable agreement with the EU.

Did you know … ?

What are some synonyms for commerce?

What are some words that share a root or word element with commerce

What are some words that often get used in discussing commerce?

How is commerce used in real life?

Commerce is a word commonly used to discuss economics, trade, business, and other large instances of buying and selling.

Try using commerce!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym for commerce?

A. taxation
B. economics
C. trade
D. business

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


commenterCommerce City