Search

of, relating to, or characteristic of commerce.
engaged in commerce.
prepared, done, or acting with sole or chief emphasis on salability, profit, or success:
a commercial product; his att-tude toward the theater is very commercial.
able to yield or make a profit:
we decided that the small oil well was not commercial.
suitable or fit for a wide, popular market:
communications satellites are gradually finding a commercial use.
suitable for or catering to business rather than private use:
commercial kitchen design; commercial refrigeration.

engaged in transporting p-ssengers or goods for profit.
civilian and public, as distinguished from military or private.

not entirely or chemically pure:
commercial soda.
catering especially to traveling salespeople by offering reduced rates, sp-ce for exhibiting products, etc.:
a commercial hotel.
(in u.s. government grading of beef) graded between standard and utility.
paid for by advertisers:
commercial television.
radio and television. a paid advertis-m-nt or promotional announcement.

a low-quality grade of beef between standard and utility.
a cut of beef of this grade.

british informal. a traveling salesperson.
historical examples

all this proves that an anti-commercial faction cannot rule the northern states.
abridgement of the debates of congress, from 1789 to 1856 (4 of 16 vol.) various

in this system of anti-commercial regulations, i find the origin and progress of our present political calamities.
abridgement of the debates of congress, from 1789 to 1856 (4 of 16 vol.) various

adjective
of, connected with, or engaged in commerce; mercantile
sponsored or paid for by an advertiser: commercial television
having profit as the main aim: commercial music
(of goods, chemicals, etc) of unrefined quality or presentation and produced in bulk for use in industry
noun
a commercially sponsored advertis-m-nt on radio or television
adj.

1680s, “pertaining to trade,” from commerce + -al (1). meaning “paid for by advertis-m-nts” (in reference to radio, tv, etc.) is from 1932; meaning “done for the sake of financial profit” (of art, etc.) is from 1871. related: commercially.
n.

“an advertis-m-nt broadcast on radio or tv,” 1935, from commercial (adj.).

noun

any endors-m-nt or recommendation: i like the idea, so spare me the commercial (1930s+)
obviously designed for wide audience approval: how can it be commercial? it’s jelly roll (1920s+ jazz musicians)