Merchants
/ˈmɜːrtʃənts/
Definitions
A person or business involved in trading goods, usually at a wholesale level.
/ˈmɜːrtʃənts/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially one dealing in goods for profit.
The local merchants rely on the tourist season for their income.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're setting up a stall at a big crafts fair. The person selling the amazing wooden toys? They're a merchant! They buy or make goods to sell and make some money.
👶 For kids: A merchant is someone who buys and sells things to make money. Like a shopkeeper!
More Examples
Silk Road merchants brought goods from the East to Europe.
These merchants deal in a wide variety of products, from textiles to spices.
How It's Used
"The merchants displayed their wares at the market."
"The Venetian merchants controlled much of the trade in the Mediterranean."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
merchant marine
The ships and sailors involved in commercial transport of goods and passengers.
"The merchant marine played a vital role in supplying the country during wartime."
From Old French *marchant*, from Latin *mercans*, the present participle of *mercor* ('to trade, traffic').
Historically, 'merchant' referred to traders who transported goods over long distances and played a significant role in economic development.
Memory tip
Think of the 'mer' in merchant, reminding you of merchandise, what they sell.
Word Origin
"To trade"