# noncommercial

/ˈnɑnkəˈmɝʃəɫ/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/noncommercial
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

not made or done to earn money, but for learning, art, or public use.

For teachers: not intended to generate profit; produced or distributed for educational, artistic, or public-service purposes. Often applied to broadcasting, research, or creative work operating outside market incentives.

## Examples

- They show noncommercial films at the community centre.
- The station survives on donations because it airs only noncommercial programs without ads.
- The archive preserves noncommercial recordings from the 1970s that commercial labels ignored but scholars now consider vital to understanding regional music.

## Antonyms

commercial

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies.

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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.