Marketable

/ˈmɑːrkɪtəbəl/ adjective

Definition

Able to be sold or likely to be in demand by consumers. Having qualities that make something suitable for commercial success.

Etymology

From 'market' (from Latin 'mercatus' meaning 'trading, buying and selling') plus the suffix '-able' meaning 'capable of.' The word developed in the 17th century as commercial activity expanded, reflecting the need to describe goods' commercial potential.

Kelly Says

The concept of 'marketability' reflects a fundamental shift in human economic thinking - from making things people need to making things people want to buy. This word embodies the transition from subsistence economics to consumer culture, where value is determined not just by utility but by appeal and desirability.

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