commercial [kuh-mur-shuh l] Word Origin adjective
- of, relating to, or characteristic of commerce.
- engaged in commerce.
- prepared, done, or acting with sole or chief emphasis on salability, profit, or success: a commercial product; His attitude toward the theater is very commercial.
- able to yield or make a profit: We decided that the small oil well was not commercial.
- suitable or fit for a wide, popular market: Communications satellites are gradually finding a commercial use.
- suitable for or catering to business rather than private use: commercial kitchen design; commercial refrigeration.
- (of a vehicle or its use)
- engaged in transporting passengers or goods for profit.
- civilian and public, as distinguished from military or private.
- not entirely or chemically pure: commercial soda.
- catering especially to traveling salespeople by offering reduced rates, space for exhibiting products, etc.: a commercial hotel.
- (in U.S. government grading of beef) graded between standard and utility.
- paid for by advertisers: commercial television.
noun
- Radio and Television. a paid advertisement or promotional announcement.
- (in U.S. government grading of beef)
- a low-quality grade of beef between standard and utility.
- a cut of beef of this grade.
- British Informal. a traveling salesperson.
Origin of commercial First recorded in 1680–90; commerce + -ial Related formscom·mer·cial·ly, adverban·ti·com·mer·cial, adjectivean·ti·com·mer·cial·ly, adverban·ti·com·mer·cial·ness, nouncoun·ter·com·mer·cial, adjectivenon·com·mer·cial, adjective, nounnon·com·mer·cial·ly, adverbpre·com·mer·cial, adjectivepro·com·mer·cial, adjectivequa·si-com·mer·cial, adjectivequa·si-com·mer·cial·ly, adverbsem·i·com·mer·cial, adjectivesem·i·com·mer·cial·ly, adverbsu·per·com·mer·cial, adjectivesu·per·com·mer·cial·ly, adverbul·tra·com·mer·cial, adjectiveSynonym study 1. Commercial, mercantile refer to the activities of business, industry, and trade. Commercial is the broader term, covering all the activities and relationships of industry and trade. In a derogatory sense it may mean such a preoccupation with the affairs of commerce as results in indifference to considerations other than wealth: commercial treaties; a merely commercial viewpoint. Mercantile applies to the purchase and sale of goods, or to the transactions of business: a mercantile house or class. British Dictionary definitions for quasi-commercial commercial adjective
- of, connected with, or engaged in commerce; mercantile
- sponsored or paid for by an advertisercommercial television
- having profit as the main aimcommercial music
- (of goods, chemicals, etc) of unrefined quality or presentation and produced in bulk for use in industry
noun
- a commercially sponsored advertisement on radio or television
Derived Formscommerciality (kəˌmɜːʃɪˈælɪtɪ), nouncommercially, adverb Word Origin and History for quasi-commercial commercial adj.
1680s, “pertaining to trade,” from commerce + -al (1). Meaning “paid for by advertisements” (in reference to radio, TV, etc.) is from 1932; meaning “done for the sake of financial profit” (of art, etc.) is from 1871. Related: Commercially.
commercial n.
“an advertisement broadcast on radio or TV,” 1935, from commercial (adj.).