commercialist
|com-mer-cial-ist|
🇺🇸
/kəˈmɝʃəlɪst/
🇬🇧
/kəˈmɜːʃəlɪst/
person concerned with commerce or commercialism
Etymology
'commercialist' originates from Modern English, formed from 'commercial' + the agent suffix '-ist', where 'commercial' comes from Latin 'commercium' meaning 'trade' and '-ist' denotes 'one who practices or is concerned with'.
'commercialist' developed from 'commercial' (Middle English, from Old French 'commercial') with the addition of the suffix '-ist' (a later English productive suffix) to denote an agent; the root traces back to Latin 'commercium'.
Initially related to things 'of or pertaining to trade', it evolved into a noun meaning 'a person engaged in or advocating commercial activity' and, in some uses, 'a specialist in commerce'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person engaged in commerce or business; a merchant or businessperson.
As a commercialist, she oversaw trade agreements with partners in three countries.
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Noun 2
someone who advocates or prioritizes commercialism and profit, often emphasizing commercial values over artistic, social, or ethical concerns.
Critics accused the director of being a commercialist who put box-office returns above artistic integrity.
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Noun 3
a specialist in commerce or commercial law (dated or technical usage).
The company consulted a commercialist to interpret the complex international trade clauses.
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Last updated: 2025/10/21 23:15