# mart

/ˈmɑɹt/ (US) · /mˈɑːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mart
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. a livestock market

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect

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

For teachers: a specialized market for the auction and sale of livestock, particularly cattle.

- The farmers gathered at the cattle mart to bid on the best calves.
- Economic fluctuations in the region are often first reflected in the prices fetched at the local livestock mart.

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

## 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.

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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.