'commercialism' originates from 'commerce', specifically the word 'commercium', where 'com-' meant 'together' and 'merx' meant 'goods'.

'commercium' transformed into the French word 'commerce', and eventually became the modern English word 'commercialism' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'trade or exchange of goods', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'emphasis on profit-making'.