commercial
Definition
Meaning: Commercial (noun) refers to an advertisement broadcast on television or radio. It can also refer to business activities in general when used as an adjective.
La signification : Commercial (nom) désigne une publicité diffusée à la télévision ou à la radio. En tant qu'adjectif, il peut se référer aux activités commerciales en général.
Example: "The funny commercial for the new soda made everyone laugh."
Grammar: Noun (countable). Can also be used as an adjective (e.g., "commercial success"). Common collocations: "TV commercial," "radio commercial," "commercial break."
Quote: "Advertising is the art of convincing people to spend money they don't have for something they don't need." [Will Rogers]
N.B.: In French, 'commercial' as an adjective is similar to English, but as a noun it refers to a salesperson ('un commercial').
Word Analysis
Français »» Publicité »» Spot publicitaire »» Annonce Ⓐ J'ai vu une publicité pour cette voiture hier. Ⓑ Le spot pendant la pause était très créatif. English »» Advertisement »» Ad »» TV spot Ⓐ That commercial played five times during the game. Ⓑ We need to create a new commercial for our product.
Dialogue
Alex: "Did you see that new commercial during the Super Bowl?"
Jamie: "The one with the dancing dogs? It went viral!"
Alex: "Yes! It's probably the most effective commercial this year."
Jamie: "I know - I already want to buy whatever they're selling."
Poem Extract
Mercy [excerpt]
the war speaks at night
with its lips of shredded children,
with its brow of plastique
and its fighter jet breath,
and then it speaks at daybreak
with the soft slur of money
unfolding leaf upon leaf.
it speaks between the news
programs in the music
of commercials, then sings
in the voices of a national anthem.
--Tyehimba Jess
Read the Full Poem
Etymology
Origin: The noun commercial derives from the Latin commercium (“trade, commerce”), combining com- (“together”) and mercium (from merx, meaning “merchandise”). It entered English via French commercial in the 17th century, initially as an adjective before becoming a noun for advertisements.
Modern Usage: Commercial as a noun (referring to ads) emerged in the early 20th century with the rise of radio and TV. It retains its broader business sense in terms like "commercial success" or "commercial law."
Grammar Note: Commercial is primarily a countable noun (e.g., "a commercial"). As an adjective, it describes profit-driven activities (e.g., "commercial flight"). Example: "The company filmed a new commercial."
Audience
Commercial (noun) is used universally in English, especially in media, marketing, and everyday speech. It appears in formal business contexts (e.g., "commercial break") and informal settings (e.g., "That commercial went viral!").
When to use: Use commercial when referring to paid advertisements or business-related activities. Example: “The commercial during the Super Bowl cost millions.”
Extra! Extra!
For a fun and engaging exploration of our word of the day, watch the following…Best Doritos Commercial Ever
How to pronounce 'commercial'
WordReference
For more on idiomatic usage, visit the WordReference Forums for discussions, translations, and examples in context.
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English⇄English – Discuss and learn about words and their usage.
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English⇄French – Explore translations and linguistic nuances.
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Synonyms⇄Antonyms – Contextual variations, etc.
Commercial break
A pause in a TV or radio programme during which commercials are aired.
Example: "The show will resume after this commercial break."
A commercial
A paid advertisement broadcast on TV, radio, or online.
Example: "That shampoo commercial was hilarious!"
TV commercial
A short promotional clip shown on television to advertise a product or service.
Example: "They filmed a new TV commercial for the holiday sale."
Radio commercial
An audio advertisement played on the radio.
Example: "She landed a voiceover role in a radio commercial."
Online commercial
A digital advertisement shown on websites, social media, or streaming platforms.
Example: "That online commercial popped up before the video started."
Super Bowl commercial
A high-budget advertisement aired during the Super Bowl, often known for creativity.
Example: "Everyone was talking about the Super Bowl commercials the next day."
Political commercial
An advertisement promoting a political candidate or issue.
Example: "The political commercials flooded every channel before the election."
Paid commercial
A promotional segment funded by an advertiser, often labelled as such on TV or online.
Example: "That segment was actually a paid commercial, not part of the news."
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