Merchant Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of MERCHANT

[count]

1

somewhat old-fashioned

:

someone who buys and sells goods especially in large amounts

• a wine merchant [=_dealer_]
• Merchants traveled hundreds of miles to trade in the city.
• a family of wealthy merchants

2

chiefly US or Scotland

:

the owner or manager of a store

• The town's merchants closed their shops during the parade.
• Prizes were given by local merchants.

3

informal

:

someone who is known for a particular quality, activity, etc.

• He's a real speed merchant. [=he runs very fast]
• doom merchants [=people who are always saying that bad things are going to happen]

Britannica Dictionary definition of MERCHANT

always used before a noun

:

used for or involved in trading goods

• merchant ships
• a society's merchant class
• a wealthy merchant family