corn merchant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "corn merchant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a person or business that sells corn or corn-related products. Example: "The corn merchant in our town has the freshest produce during the harvest season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Her father was a London solicitor; his a prosperous corn merchant in the Suffolk village of East Bergholt, where Maria's rich grandfather was rector.

The Economist

The census taker listed his neighbors as a policeman, a corn merchant, an errand boy, a "foreman of laborers" and a teamster.

The New York Times

This son of an east-coast corn merchant was a tweedy-looking fogey: gay, C of E, a lifelong Tory, and little travelled.

The Guardian

It was here that Bill's grandfather "a corn merchant, gambler and a bit of a bugger" came down to do his accounts and notoriously stayed "lost" in the place for three months.

The Guardian - Travel

If Anne Lyles and Martin Gayford, co-curators of an exhibition on Constable's portraits opening at the National Portrait Gallery tomorrow, are correct, the man was painted when Constable's prosperous corn merchant father strongly disapproved of his son's choice of career as a professional artist - perhaps explaining his intransigent expression.

The Guardian - Arts

Of course, the two sometimes overlapped: Bernard Shaw's father was, rather in the pattern of Samuel Roe, an unsuccessful Dublin corn merchant who had a bit of land with tenants on it -- as John Butler Yeats, a member of the Protestant professional middle class, also had -- and therefore had pretensions to gentility.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Corning merchants are suffering too.

Forbes

Arnrid Banniza Johnston was Swedish by birth and the daughter of a corn and grain merchant.

BBC

Older folk resisted such newfangled ideas as planting hybrid corn bought from merchants rather than seedcorn from their own harvests.

The Economist

Instead, Mercy Corps will be pushing a button once a month, and $40 will automatically go into each person's cellphone savings account — redeemable at local merchants for rice, corn flour, beans or cooking oil.

The New York Times

Merchants drag burros laden with corn and rice and cooking oil and tea.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "corn merchant" when precision is required about the specific commodity, contrasting with more general terms like 'grain merchant'.

Common error

Avoid using "corn merchant" in contemporary contexts where terms like 'agricultural commodity trader' or 'grain dealer' might be more appropriate. While "corn merchant" is understood, it has a slightly archaic feel.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "corn merchant" functions primarily as a noun phrase, identifying a person or business involved in the trade of corn. As noted by Ludwig AI, this term is generally correct for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Academia

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "corn merchant" accurately describes an individual involved in the corn trade. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, although it's more frequently encountered in historical or agricultural contexts. While alternatives like "grain trader" or "corn dealer" exist, "corn merchant" provides a specific and historically grounded descriptor. Its usage spans news media, encyclopedic entries, and formal business contexts. While grammatically sound, writers should consider the context to decide if a more contemporary term better suits their needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Corn dealer

Direct synonym, less common usage.

Maize merchant

Uses 'maize' as a synonym for 'corn'.

Grain trader

More general term; not specific to corn.

Grain merchant

Broader term; includes other grains besides corn.

Corn supplier

Focuses on the supply aspect of the business.

Corn factor

Historical term for an agent selling corn.

Corn wholesaler

Specifies selling corn in bulk.

Corn retailer

Specifies selling corn directly to consumers.

Cereal merchant

More general term encompassing various cereals.

Agricultural commodity trader

Very broad term including corn and other products.

FAQs

How can I use "corn merchant" in a sentence?

You can use "corn merchant" to describe someone who buys and sells corn, such as, "The "corn merchant" made a good profit this year due to the high demand for grain".

What is another term for "corn merchant"?

Alternatives include "grain trader" or "corn dealer". The most suitable choice depends on the specific context.

Is "corn merchant" an outdated term?

While still understood, "corn merchant" is more commonly used in historical contexts. Modern equivalents like "agricultural commodity trader" are frequently preferred in contemporary settings.

What did a "corn merchant" do?

A "corn merchant" would buy, sell, and often transport corn and other grains. They played a vital role in the agricultural economy, connecting farmers to markets.