merchant

B1 Topic:People & Society

US /ˈmɝt͡ʃənt/ UK /ˈmɜːtʃənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #6980

Meanings

1

noun
A person who buys and sells goods, especially in large amounts or as a business.

The merchant imported silk and spices from across the sea.
2

noun
The owner or operator of a shop or store.

Local merchants closed their shops early because of the storm.
3

noun
A person known for a particular activity or behaviour (often disapproving).

He's a real speed merchant who drives far too fast.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a person who buys and sells... tradermerchandiser

More chandler chapmancopremandealer haggler hawker huckster monger peddler retailer salesperson seller

Opposites

purchaser

Word family

Forms merchants

Derived forms merchantabilitymerchantablemerchantessmerchanthoodmerchantishmerchantlikemerchantlymerchantmanmerchantrymerchantwomannonmerchantsleaze-merchant

Related forms mercantile merchandise trade

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

grain merchant
a trader who buys and sells cereal grains

Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English marchaunt, from Anglo-Norman marchaunt, from mercans, from the verb mercor (“to trade, deal, sell”).

marchaunt Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society

External links

# merchant

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈmɝt͡ʃənt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈmɜːtʃənt/
**Frequency rank:** 6980

## Meanings
1. A person who buys and sells goods, especially in large amounts or as a business.
2. The owner or operator of a shop or store.
3. A person known for a particular activity or behaviour (often disapproving).

## Examples
- The merchant imported silk and spices from across the sea.
- Local merchants closed their shops early because of the storm.
- He's a real speed merchant who drives far too fast.

## Synonyms
- chandler
- chapman
- copreman
- dealer
- haggler
- hawker
- huckster
- monger
- peddler
- retailer
- salesperson
- seller

## Antonyms
- purchaser

## Derived Forms
- merchantability
- merchantable
- merchantess
- merchanthood
- merchantish
- merchantlike
- merchantly
- merchantman
- merchantry
- merchantwoman
- nonmerchant
- sleaze-merchant

## Related Forms
- mercantile
- merchandise
- trade

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: marchaunt

## Etymology
From Middle English marchaunt, from Anglo-Norman marchaunt, from mercans, from the verb mercor (“to trade, deal, sell”).

## AI Etymology
Merchant comes from Middle English marchaunt, from Anglo-Norman marchaunt, from mercans, from the verb mercor (“to trade, deal, sell”). In present-day English its meanings include a person who buys and sells goods, especially in large amounts or as a business, the owner or operator of a shop or store, and a person known for a particular activity or behaviour (often disapproving). The historical chain runs through marchaunt (Middle English) and marchaunt (Anglo-Norman). Related and derived forms include mercantile, merchandise, trade, and merchantability.

## Topics
- People & Society

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