mass-market
|mass-market|
🇺🇸
/ˌmæsˈmɑrkɪt/
🇬🇧
/ˌmæsˈmɑːkɪt/
for many people; aimed at the general public
Etymology
'mass-market' originates in modern English as a compound of 'mass' + 'market', coined to describe markets and products for the masses in the era of mass production and mass media (early 20th century).
'mass' comes via Old French 'masse' from Late Latin 'massa' meaning 'lump, mass', and 'market' comes from Old North French/Old French 'marché' from Latin 'mercatus' meaning 'trade, market'. The two words were combined in English into the compound 'mass market' during the 20th century as industrial-scale production and advertising expanded.
Initially it simply denoted a market composed of large numbers of consumers ('market of the masses'); over time it also came to describe products and editions produced specifically to appeal to that broad market ('mass-market' as an adjective).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the large segment of consumers who buy widely available, standardized products rather than specialist or niche goods; the general consumer market.
The company aimed its new product at the mass-market rather than at specialists.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
designed, produced, or priced to appeal to a large number of consumers; intended for broad, general sale (often implying lower price or mass production).
They released a mass-market edition of the book with a cheaper paperback cover.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/16 13:25