monger

1 of 2

noun

mon·​ger ˈməŋ-gər  ˈmäŋ- 

1

: broker, dealer

—usually used in combination

alemonger

2

: a person who attempts to stir up or spread something that is usually petty or discreditable

—usually used in combination

warmonger

monger

2 of 2

verb

mongered; mongering ˈməŋ-g(ə-)riŋ 

ˈmäŋ-

transitive verb

: peddle

Did you know?

Peddlers (especially fish merchants) have been called mongers for more than 1000 years. The term traces to a Latin noun meaning "trader." Initially, it was an honorable term, but every profession has its bad apples, and the snake-oil salesmen of the bunch gave monger a bad reputation. By the middle of the 16th century, the term often implied that a merchant was dishonorable and contemptible. Nowadays, monger is typically appended to another word to identify a trader of a particular type. Some combinations (such as fishmonger) suggest respectable commerce, whereas others (such as rumormonger, scandalmonger, and hypemonger) imply that a person is trading or spreading information in a careless or deceptive manner.

Examples of monger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With time, the cheese got bigger and bigger, with each monger trying to outdo the other. —Liz McNeil, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024

The Onion will have to wait a few more weeks to see whether a court will approve the satirical outlet’s bid to buy the carcass of Infowars, the site founded by right-wing conspiracy monger Alex Jones. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 26 Nov. 2024

Verb

There should be a federal agency that protects Americans from fake news, misinformation and fear mongering! —Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Nov. 2024

The only people who will suffer will be the people on the receiving end of his hate mongering. — Joan Solomon, Pikesville Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mongere, from Old English mangere, from Latin mangon-, mango, of Greek origin; akin to Greek manganon charm, philter

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!