commercial
/kəˈmɜː.ʃəl/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Connected with business, buying, or selling. It often means something is made to make money, not mainly for art or personal use.
- This is a commercial project.
- They launched the commercial version last year.
- The building was used for commercial purposes.
noun
An advertisement on TV, radio, or online. It is made to promote a product, service, or company.
- The commercial played during the match.
- That commercial is very funny.
- We saw three commercials before the film started.
Adinary Nuance
Commercial is not the same as business in every context. Commercial often suggests money-making, markets, or advertising, while business is broader and more general. It is also different from profitable: something can be commercial without making much profit yet. In media, commercial often contrasts with artistic or public-interest work.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thương mại
- Spanish
- comercial
- Chinese
- 商业的
- Japanese
- 商業の
- Korean
- 상업적인
Etymology
Commercial comes from Latin commercium, meaning “trade” or “business.” It entered English through French in the late 16th century.
Common phrases
commercial breakcommercial successcommercial usecommercial property
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is commercial a formal word?
- Yes, it is fairly formal. You will see it often in business, media, and academic writing.
- What is the difference between commercial and business?
- Commercial usually means related to trade, sales, or profit. Business is a wider word for work, company activity, and trade.
- Can commercial mean an advertisement?
- Yes. As a noun, a commercial is a TV, radio, or online advertisement.
- Is commercial common in IELTS writing?
- Yes, especially in topics about business, media, cities, and advertising.