merchandise

merchandise — noun

1. products that a business offers for people to buy, especially in a shop or store

1.nounB1
Definition

products that a business offers for people to buy, especially in a shop or store.

Example

Shirin unpacked a new delivery of summer merchandise before the store opened.

All merchandise must be returned within thirty days to receive a full refund.

passive: merchandise must be returned

Common collocations
  • store merchandise
  • summer merchandise
  • range of merchandise
  • item of merchandise
  • return merchandise
Synonyms
  • goods

    more general term; works for any items bought or sold, not just in shops

  • products

    focuses on items that have been manufactured; broader than merchandise

  • stock

    refers to the supply a business keeps, not individual items for sale

Usage Note

Merchandise is almost always uncountable. Do not use 'merchandises' or 'a merchandise'. Use 'an item of merchandise' or 'a piece of merchandise' for countable references.

Common Mistakes

I bought three merchandises at the market.
I bought three items of merchandise at the market.
Merchandise is an uncountable noun and cannot take a plural -s ending.

2. items that carry the name, logo, or images from a popular film, music group, spo

2.nounB1
Definition

items that carry the name, logo, or images from a popular film, music group, sports team, or other entertainment brand, sold to fans.

Example

Fans queued outside the stadium to buy official team merchandise before the match.

collocation: official merchandise

The film earned more money from its merchandise than from ticket sales.

Common collocations
  • official merchandise
  • team merchandise
  • film merchandise
  • pirated merchandise
  • branded merchandise
Synonyms
  • branded goods

    more general term for any product carrying a brand name, not just entertainment

  • fan gear

    informal; specifically clothing or accessories for fans

  • collectibles

    focuses on items people collect rather than use

Usage Note

When used for a specific franchise or team, 'merchandise' can be treated as countable in the plural form 'merchandises' by some retailers, but standard usage keeps it uncountable. Use 'official merchandise' to distinguish licensed items from knock-offs.

Common Mistakes

I bought a merchandise of the band.
I bought some band merchandise.
Merchandise is uncountable; use 'a piece of merchandise' or 'some merchandise'.

merchandise — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Goods is the most general and common term for items that are bought and sold; it works in everyday speech and in economics. Products focuses on items that have been made or manufactured, often by a specific company. Wares is slightly old-fashioned and formal, often used for items sold by a particular seller at a market or fair. Stock refers to the supply of goods that a business keeps available at a given time, rather than individual items. For example: the department store kept its merchandise neatly arranged on shelves, while the street vendor displayed his wares on a blanket. The shop's best-selling products were leather bags, but its total stock also included shoes and scarves.

goods ↗productswaresstock ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • item of merchandise
  • range of merchandise

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchLatin

Merchandise entered English from Old French 'merchandise', meaning goods for trade. The French word came from 'mercheant' (merchant), which traces further back to Latin 'merx' (goods or wares) and the verb 'mercari' (to trade).