Mart

A mart is a marketplace or trading center where goods and services are bought and sold. The term is used for both physical spaces, such as market halls or street market squares, and organized centers that specialize in wholesale or trade. A mart can function as a daily retail market or as a large complex that serves specific industries and buyers.

Etymology and history: The word mart derives from Old French mart, meaning market, which itself is linked to mercatus, Latin for merchandise or trade. Historically, marts were central to urban life in medieval and early modern Europe, often organized as regular market days or seasonal fairs that facilitated barter and commerce and attracted merchants from surrounding regions.

Types and usage: In contemporary English, mart frequently refers to a large building or campus housing multiple vendors—retail or wholesale—often organized around a product category, such as a furniture mart, clothing mart, or electronics mart. Wholesale marts serve as hubs where retailers and businesses source goods in bulk. Trade fairs and exhibitions are sometimes described as marts when they function as centralized venues for industry buyers and sellers to meet, negotiate deals, and showcase products.

Regional and contextual variations: Some places maintain weekly or monthly market marts, while modern commercial complexes use the term to convey a focus on bulk purchasing, professional buyers, or industry-specific merchandise. The word also appears in place names and in marketing to evoke a perception of broad selection and trading activity.

See also: Market, bazaar, souk, fair.