English Reference
noun · adjective

merchant

n. · adj.
US /ˈmɝtʃənt/ UK /mˈɜːtʃənt/ mer·chant UK spelling merchant's, merchant's, merchanted, merchanting

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    n.a person who buys and sells large amounts of goods, especially between different countries.

    n.a person involved in wholesale trade, traditionally one who deals with foreign countries or supplies specific commodities.

    Simple

    The spice merchant travelled across the ocean to find the best cinnamon.

    In context

    Venetian merchants dominated the Mediterranean trade routes for centuries, accumulating vast wealth through the exchange of silk and precious metals.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.someone who owns or manages a retail store.

    n.the owner or operator of a retail business or commercial enterprise.

    Simple

    Local merchants in the town square are worried about the new shopping mall.

    In context

    The association of local merchants lobbied the city council to improve street lighting and pedestrian access to the historic market district.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced InformalBritish English

    n.a person who is known for doing a specific, often annoying, thing very often.

    n.a person characterised by a specific, frequently repeated activity or trait; often used with a preceding noun to form a derogatory label.

    Simple

    Don't listen to him; he's just a doom merchant who thinks everything will fail.

    In context

    The tabloid press is often accused of being a group of panic merchants, exaggerating minor risks to increase their readership.

    mongeraddict
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.used to describe ships or activities involved in buying and selling goods.

    adj.relating to merchants or commerce; specifically used to describe non-military trading vessels.

    Simple

    The country has a large merchant fleet that carries oil across the world.

    In context

    During the conflict, the navy was tasked with protecting merchant shipping from submarine attacks in the North Atlantic.

India's UPI may finally face merchant fees, raising questions over who pays and whether users will resist.

BBC News· 16 Aug 2026

By giving merchants and residents a common way to measure goods, the system helped make exchanges more consistent for everyone.

ScienceDaily· 30 Jul 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated