Added 9 October 2026
market
/ˈmɑːkɪt/ noun
In Latin: macellum Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about market at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A gathering of people for the purchase and sale of merchandise, often periodic at a set time.
The right to hold a weekly market was an invaluable privilege not given to all towns in the Middle Ages.
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A relatively spacious outdoor or covered site where traders set up stalls, either temporarily or permanently or semi-permanently, and buyers browse the merchandise.
This site on North Street used to be the market, until it was redeveloped.
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Any physical store selling groceries, such as a grocery store or convenience store.
Stop by the market on your way home and pick up some milk.
verb
Origin
From Middle English market, from late Old English market (“market”) and Anglo-Norman markiet (Old French marchié); all ultimately from Latin mercātus (“trade, market”), from mercor (“to trade, deal in, buy”), itself derived from merx (“wares, merchandise”). Doublet of mart. Cognate with West Frisian merk (“market”), Dutch markt, German Markt, Danish and Norwegian marked (“market”), Faroese and Icelandic markaður (“market”), Swedish marknad (“market”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)