COMMERCE Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'commerce' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of commerce are business , industry , trade , and traffic . While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

Q: When might 'business' be a better fit than 'commerce'?

The meanings of business and commerce largely overlap; however, business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

Q: Where would 'industry' be a reasonable alternative to 'commerce'?

The words industry and commerce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

Q: When would 'traffic' be a good substitute for 'commerce'?

The synonyms traffic and commerce are sometimes interchangeable, but traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

commerce

noun

ˈkä-(ˌ)mərs

Definition of commerce next

as in marketplace

the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places a government agency in charge of regulating interstate commerce

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in interaction

doings between individuals or groups when I was doing outside consulting for the company, I never had much commerce with the in-house staff

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nonintercourse

as in sex

sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis rumors of commerce between the lady and the knight spread throughout the court

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word commerce distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of commerce are business, industry, trade, and traffic. While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

When might business be a better fit than commerce?

The meanings of business and commerce largely overlap; however, business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

Where would industry be a reasonable alternative to commerce?

The words industry and commerce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

When would traffic be a good substitute for commerce?

The synonyms traffic and commerce are sometimes interchangeable, but traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of commerce The opacity and coyness of the white-cube gallery, confining its business activities to the back room, feel like holdovers from an earlier age, when the modernist opposition of art and commerce governed artmaking and marketing both. —

Natasha Degen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024 For November commerce writer Alaina Chou writes about easy-cleanup dinners, weightlifting, and more. —

Alaina Chou, Bon Appétit, 1 Nov. 2024 De Naoum is also the commerce editor-at-large at Thomas-Xometry, the leading U.S. online platform for supplier discovery and product sourcing. —

Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2024 The cooling technology does its job, said commerce editor Audrey Lee in her Nolah Evolution mattress review. —

Macy Alcido, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for commerce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for commerce

Noun

The filing also highlights Upstart's efforts to manage risks associated with its loan portfolio, including credit risk and interest rate fluctuations, to ensure the stability and growth of its marketplace.

Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Customer relationships are at risk if designs, specs and order details are leaked, while exposing details about plant efficiency or other KPIs can put companies at a disadvantage in the marketplace.

Chris Turlica, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024