What does marketable mean?
Marketable describes something capable of being sold or attractive enough to attract customers, clients, or employers. The word is especially common in business and employment contexts: a marketable product appeals to consumers, while marketable skills or qualifications are useful enough to interest prospective employers. It is not simply a synonym for profitable, because something can be marketable before it has earned money; the term focuses on demand and commercial appeal. Marketable also implies suitability for the marketplace, suggesting that the person, product, or service can compete for attention. The word is generally neutral, though it can sound somewhat businesslike or promotional when used about a person. In personal and professional descriptions, it usually carries a positive connotation, while in critical contexts it may suggest an emphasis on selling appeal rather than intrinsic value.
adjectiveCapable of being sold or successfully offered to buyers, customers, or employers. Often implies that a product, skill, or other resource has sufficient appeal or value to attract interest.
- Able to be sold or successfully offered to buyers or customers.
- Having qualities that make a person, skill, or product attractive to employers, clients, or the public.
"The program is designed to give graduates marketable skills in a rapidly changing industry."
"The company redesigned the packaging to make the product more marketable."
"Her combination of technical expertise and communication skills made her highly marketable."
A product can be commercial and still fail if customers do not want it; marketable is the word for something that can turn attention into sales.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does marketable come from?
Marketable was formed in the early 19th century from market, a word that comes from Latin merx, meaning merchandise or goods, and was ultimately associated with Latin mercari, meaning to trade. The suffix -able, meaning capable of being or able to be, follows a productive English pattern for forming adjectives. The same Latin commercial root underlies words such as merchant, mercantile, and merchandise.
Related word forms
How marketable is actually used
Common in business, employment, education, and marketing contexts. It can be mildly evaluative, especially when describing a person or qualification, and often suggests that something is attractive to prospective buyers or employers.
Easily confused with marketable
Commercial describes something connected with trade or business, whereas marketable specifically emphasizes the possibility of attracting buyers or users.