# commercial

/kəˈmɝʃəɫ/ (US) · /kəmˈɜːʃəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/commercial
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. related to business

adjective · CEFR B1

related to buying and selling goods or services to make a profit.

For teachers: pertaining to the exchange of goods and services within a market economy, specifically with a focus on profit.

- The city center is full of commercial buildings like shops and offices.
- The company decided to delay the commercial release of the software until the security vulnerabilities were fully addressed.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

### 2. aviation/transport

adjective · CEFR B2

used for carrying passengers or cargo for money, rather than for private or military use.

For teachers: denoting aircraft, flights, or pilots engaged in the transport of passengers or freight for hire.

- He is training hard to get his commercial pilot license.
- Commercial aviation has seen a significant increase in fuel efficiency due to advancements in engine design over the last decade.

### 3. an advertisement

noun · CEFR B1

a short film or audio message that tries to sell you something on TV, radio, or the internet.

For teachers: a broadcast advertisement on television, radio, or digital streaming platforms.

- I hate it when the movie is interrupted by long commercials.
- The marketing agency produced a high-budget commercial that aired during the championship game to maximize brand exposure.

Teaching tip: In British English, 'advert' or 'ad' is more common for print and TV, while 'commercial' is standard in American English for broadcast media.

## Examples

- The television commercial for the new car is very funny.
- During the championship game, companies pay millions of dollars for a thirty-second commercial to reach a global audience.
- While digital streaming services offer ad-free tiers, the traditional broadcast model still relies heavily on the revenue generated by every commercial aired during prime-time slots.

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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.