— commercially , adv.
/keuh merr"sheuhl/ , adj.
1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of commerce.
2. engaged in commerce.
3. prepared, done, or acting with sole or chief emphasis on salability, profit, or success: a commercial product; His attitude toward the theater is very commercial.
4. able to yield or make a profit: We decided that the small oil well was not commercial.
5. suitable or fit for a wide, popular market: Communications satellites are gradually finding a commercial use.
6. suitable for or catering to business rather than private use: commercial kitchen design; commercial refrigeration.
7. (of a vehicle or its use)
a. engaged in transporting passengers or goods for profit.
b. civilian and public, as distinguished from military or private.
8. not entirely or chemically pure: commercial soda.
9. catering esp. to traveling salespeople by offering reduced rates, space for exhibiting products, etc.: a commercial hotel.
10. (in U.S. government grading of beef) graded between standard and utility.
11. paid for by advertisers: commercial television.
n.
12. Radio and Television. a paid advertisement or promotional announcement.
13. (in U.S. government grading of beef)
a. a low-quality grade of beef between standard and utility.
b. a cut of beef of this grade.
14. Brit. Informal. a traveling salesperson.
[ 1680-90; COMMERCE + -IAL ]
Syn. 1. COMMERCIAL, MERCANTILE refer to the activities of business, industry, and trade. COMMERCIAL is the broader term, covering all the activities and relationships of industry and trade. In a derogatory sense it may mean such a preoccupation with the affairs of commerce as results in indifference to considerations other than wealth: commercial treaties; a merely commercial viewpoint. MERCANTILE applies to the purchase and sale of goods, or to the transactions of business: a mercantile house or class.