merchant
gb/mˈɚt͡ʃənt/ us/mˈɚt͡ʃənt/
B1
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Person or business selling goods
A person or business that sells things, often in large amounts.
Usage pattern:
[a/an/the] merchant
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'merchant' with 'mercenary' because the words sound similar, but they have very different meanings.
Synonyms
trader (Often used for someone who buys and sells goods as a job, sometimes on a smaller scale or in financial markets.)
|
vendor (More often used for someone selling directly to the public, especially in markets or streets.)
Antonyms
customer (A person who buys goods instead of selling them.)
Collocations
merchant ship
|street merchant
|wholesale merchant
|local merchant
|online merchant
Themes
business
|commerce
|trade
|finance
|work
Examples
- The merchant displayed his goods in the market square.
- Many local merchants rely on tourists for their income.
- The company is a major merchant of electronics in Asia.
- She works as an online merchant, selling handmade jewelry.
- The port was filled with merchant ships from around the world.
Learner examples
- The merchant sells fruit in the market.
- I spoke to the merchant about the price.
- The merchant has many customers.
- That shop is owned by a kind merchant.
Noun
informal
B2
entity
2
Person keen on something
An informal way to call someone who really likes or often does something.
Usage pattern:
[a/an] [activity/quality] merchant
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is informal and slightly humorous or critical, and may try to use it in formal writing.
Synonyms
enthusiast (More neutral and formal; lacks the playful or critical tone of 'merchant' in this sense.)
Antonyms
avoider (Someone who actively avoids or dislikes the activity or quality in question.)
Collocations
speed merchant
|gossip merchant
|doom merchant
Themes
informal
|personality
|daily_life
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He's a real speed merchant on the highway.
- Don't listen to those doom merchants predicting disaster.
- She's a gossip merchant who can't keep a secret.
Learner examples
- He is a football merchant — he plays every day.
- She is a gossip merchant.
- They call him a speed merchant.
Grammar
Dictionary form
merchant
IPA
GB/mˈɚt͡ʃənt/
US/mˈɚt͡ʃənt/
Syllables & stress
mer - chant (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mer)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: merchant
- Plural: merchants
Word family
Forms
merchants
noun
Core family
merchandise
noun B1
Related words
merchandising
noun
merchandiser
noun
Advanced or less common
mercantile
adjective C1
Expressions
doom merchant
1/dˈum mˈɚt͡ʃənt/
fixed phrase
informal
Pessimistic predictor of trouble
Someone who often says bad things will happen.
Examples
- Don't be such a doom merchant — things might turn out well.
- The media are full of doom merchants warning about economic collapse.
merchant of death
1/mˈɚt͡ʃənt əv dˈɛθ/
fixed phrase
Arms dealer causing harm
A person or company that sells weapons and is seen as causing death or destruction.
Examples
- The press branded the arms dealer a 'merchant of death'.
- He became known as a merchant of death after selling weapons to both sides of the conflict.
speed merchant
1/spˈid mˈɚt͡ʃənt/
fixed phrase
informal
Person who drives too fast
Someone who drives at very high speeds, often dangerously.
Examples
- The police stopped a speed merchant on the highway.
- He's a real speed merchant when he gets behind the wheel.