commercial
UK[kəˈmɜːʃl]US[kəˈmɜːrʃl]
adj
relating to or involved in the buying and selling of goods and services
adj
concerned mainly with making money, sometimes at the expense of quality
n
a television or radio advertisement
Morpheme Breakdown
com
merc
ial
com
together
merc
trade
ial
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word commercial has its origins in the latin term 'commercium', which itself is a compound of 'com-' (together) and 'merx' (merchandise, goods). this original sense of 'joint trade' or 'mutual exchange of goods' captures the fundamental social and economic activity at its core. the adjective-forming suffix '-ialis' was added, and the word passed into english via old french 'commercial' in the late 16th century. over time, its meaning expanded from the literal act of trade to encompass all related activities, institutions, and the profit-driven mindset associated with them, giving us the modern abstract senses pertaining to business and commerce.
Analysis
Structure: com (together) + merc (trade) + ial (adjective suffix)
com: from latin 'cum', meaning 'together, with'. a prefix indicating association.
merc: from latin 'merx, mercis', meaning 'merchandise, goods for trade'. the core root.
ial: from latin '-ialis', an adjective-forming suffix meaning 'pertaining to, relating to'.
Examples
the building is zoned for commercial and residential use.
the film was a critical success but a commercial failure.
the television network aired a series of humorous commercials during the game.