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 While social commerce is already established in APAC, other regions have been slower to adopt the behavior. —

Forrester, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 Before being named prime minister in 2021, Maiga served as Mali’s commerce minister under former President Amadou Toumani Toure and as digital economy minister under former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. —

Reuters, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024 Young artists want to reclaim their vision Traffic relief is coming to metro Phoenix after voters extend Proposition 479 transportation tax Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. —

Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 19 Nov. 2024 Despite trends suggesting that direct-to-consumer and social commerce can threaten traditional retail, the company believes there’s room for everyone to thrive. —

Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for commerce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for commerce

Noun

Seeing an opportunity to tap into people’s emotions and wallets, online stores and marketplaces selling political merchandise now sell merchandise with not only a candidate’s name but also quotes, taglines, facial images and more.

Rytis Lauris, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Sources indicated that some of those profits could be used to scoop up other cable outlets to consolidate the new firm’s clout in the marketplace.

Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024