# merchant of death

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/merchant-of-death
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

One who engages in the unlawful distribution or supply of substances or objects with potentially fatal consequences, such as drugs or weapons.

## Examples

- The news report called the illegal arms dealer a merchant of death.
- International authorities tracked the merchant of death across several borders to stop the flow of dangerous weapons into the conflict zone.
- History remembers the notorious merchant of death as a man who profited immensely from the suffering and destruction caused by the weapons he supplied to warring factions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.