com·mer·cial
kə-ˈmər-shəl 
1
a(1)
: occupied with or engaged in commerce or work intended for commerce
a commercial artist
(2)
: of or relating to commerce
commercial regulations
commercial services
(3)
: characteristic of commerce
commercial weights
(4)
: suitable, adequate, or prepared for commerce
found oil in commercial quantities
b(1)
: being of an average or inferior quality
commercial oxalic acid
show-quality versus commercial cattle
(2)
: producing artistic work of low standards for quick market success
2
a
: viewed with regard to profit
a commercial success
of no commercial value
b
: designed for a large market
commercial coffee production
3
: emphasizing skills and subjects useful in business
a commercial school
4
: supported by advertisers
commercial TV
plural commercials
: an advertisement included with another broadcast (as on radio, television, or a podcast)
Synonyms
Examples of commercial in a Sentence
Adjective
Their music is too commercial.
The average American sees and hears thousands of commercial messages each day.
Noun
a commercial for a new kind of soap
Recent Examples on the Web
Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2025
One of those latter commercial successes was Firestone Walker’s 805 sub-brand, named after the local telephone area code.
—Don Tse, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Gary Drenik, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
In the commercial, making its debut on Christmas Day during the Netflix NFL games, Schirripa, 67, plays cards with a group of friends in a hangout not unlike the interior of Satriale's Pork Store.
—Marina Watts, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for commercial 
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Adjective
Primary payload was commercial company Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander headed to the moon.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2025
One of those latter commercial successes was Firestone Walker’s 805 sub-brand, named after the local telephone area code.
—Don Tse, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Noun
According to a recent Prosper Insights & Analytics survey, 71% of viewers consider Super Bowl commercials to be a form of entertainment.
—Gary Drenik, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
In the commercial, making its debut on Christmas Day during the Netflix NFL games, Schirripa, 67, plays cards with a group of friends in a hangout not unlike the interior of Satriale's Pork Store.
—Marina Watts, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for commercial
Dictionary Entries Near commercial
Cite this Entry
“Commercial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commercial. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commercial
1 of 2 adjective
com·mer·cial
kə-ˈmər-shəl
1
: of or relating to commerce
2
: designed mainly for profit
especially
: designed for mass appeal
the commercial theater
3
: paid for by advertisers
commercial TV
commercial
2 of 2 noun
: an advertisement broadcast on radio or television
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