English Reference

Word

mart

US/ˈmɑɹt/

UK/mˈɑːt/

Definition

n. a place where farmers buy and sell farm animals like cows or sheep.

n. a specialized market for the auction and sale of livestock, particularly cattle.

Examples

“The local flower mart opens early every Saturday morning.”

“The city was once a famous mart for spices and silk, attracting merchants from across the continent.”

“While the term feels somewhat archaic in general conversation, it survives in the branding of massive retail chains and specialized trade centers like the international furniture mart.”

Examples

simple

“The local flower mart opens early every Saturday morning.”

contextual

“The city was once a famous mart for spices and silk, attracting merchants from across the continent.”

complex

“While the term feels somewhat archaic in general conversation, it survives in the branding of massive retail chains and specialized trade centers like the international furniture mart.”

Teaching tip

This specific sense is common in rural parts of the UK and Ireland but may be unfamiliar to urban speakers.

Real-World Examples

“She is attempting to prise the boards off a food mart within one hour of arriving in the town, and I’ve never related to anything harder.”
The Guardian · 12 Sept 2026

Synonyms

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated
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British English, Dialect

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English Reference