commerce
gb/kˈɑmɚs/ us/kˈɑmɚs/
B1
English
~ 2000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
buying and selling activity
The act of buying and selling things, especially between businesses or countries.
Usage pattern:
[something] in commerce
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'commerce' with 'commercial'; 'commerce' is a noun for the activity, while 'commercial' is an adjective describing something related to business.
Synonyms
trade (Common, general term for buying and selling; can also refer to specific industries or skills.)
|
business (Broader term that includes all commercial activities, not just buying and selling.)
Antonyms
noncommercial activity (Refers to activities not intended for profit or trade.)
Collocations
international commerce
|online commerce
|commerce regulations
|commerce sector
|commerce department
Themes
business
|economics
|trade
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- E-commerce has transformed global commerce in the past two decades.
- The city is a major center of commerce in the region.
- Commerce between the two nations has increased since the trade agreement.
- Local commerce suffered during the economic downturn.
- He studied commerce at university to work in international trade.
Learner examples
- Commerce is important for the economy.
- The store is part of local commerce.
- Online commerce is growing fast.
- Commerce brings products from other countries.
- She works in commerce.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
2
interaction or exchange between people
A formal way to say talking or sharing ideas with people.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has commerce with [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with business-related commerce; context usually clarifies meaning.
Synonyms
interaction (General term for any form of contact or exchange between people.)
|
communication (Focuses more on the act of conveying information.)
Antonyms
isolation (Lack of contact or exchange with others.)
Collocations
intellectual commerce
|social commerce (formal sense)
|commerce with others
Themes
communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The university encourages commerce between scholars of different fields.
- In those days, letters were the main means of commerce between distant friends.
- They enjoyed a rich commerce of ideas during their travels.
Learner examples
- He had little commerce with his neighbors.
- Commerce between artists can create new ideas.
- She values commerce with people from other cultures.
Grammar
Dictionary form
commerce
IPA
GB/kˈɑmɚs/
US/kˈɑmɚs/
Syllables & stress
com - merce (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (com)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: commerce
- Plural: commerce
Word family
Core family
commercial
adjective A2
Related words
commercially
adverb B2
e-commerce
noun
Negative and opposite forms
non-commercial
adjective
Advanced or less common
Expressions
Department of Commerce
1/dɪpˈɑɹtmənt əv kˈɑmɚs/
fixed phrase
US government trade agency
A part of the US government that helps business and trade grow.
Examples
- The Department of Commerce released new economic data today.
- She works as an analyst at the Department of Commerce.
e-commerce
1/ˈi kˈɑmɚs/
fixed phrase
online buying and selling
Buying and selling things on the internet.
Examples
- E-commerce has made shopping more convenient for many consumers.
- Small businesses are turning to e-commerce to reach more customers.
Chamber of Commerce
1/t͡ʃˈeɪmbɚ əv kˈɑmɚs/
fixed phrase
local business organization
A local group that helps and supports businesses in an area.
Examples
- The chamber of commerce is hosting a networking event next week.
- He joined the chamber of commerce to connect with other business owners.
- She joined the Chamber of Commerce to meet other local entrepreneurs.