commercial

1 of 2

adjective

com·​mer·​cial kə-ˈmər-shəl How to pronounce commercial (audio)
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
commerciality noun
commercially adverb

commercial

2 of 2

noun

plural commercials
: an advertisement included with another broadcast (as on radio, television, or a podcast)

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
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.
Adjective
Carriers transporting de minimis items, such as commercial mail agencies UPS and FedEx, must report shipment details to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the White House said April 2. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 2 May 2025 Wolf Alice’s last record, 2021’s Blue Weekend, ushered in a new commercial zenith, landing a nomination for the Mercury Prize (which the group won for 2017’s Visions of a Life), topping the Official U.K. Albums Chart and leading the band to its first-ever BRIT award the following year. Sophie Williams, Billboard, 1 May 2025
Noun
Hudson did not speak in the commercial but had a key visual presence. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025 And last year, John’s affable personality was on full display in a shoe commercial with his son. Eric Nehm, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commercial

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see commerce entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of commercial was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commercial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commercial. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

commercial

1 of 2 adjective
com·​mer·​cial kə-ˈmər-shəl How to pronounce commercial (audio)
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
commercially adverb

commercial

2 of 2 noun
: an advertisement broadcast on radio or television

Legal Definition

commercial

adjective
com·​mer·​cial
: of or relating to commerce
commercial regulations
commercially adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on commercial

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