The noun is derived from Middle English mongere, mangere (“dealer, merchant, trader”), from Old English mangere (“dealer, merchant, trader”), from Proto-West Germanic *mangārī (“dealer, merchant, monger”), from Latin mangō (“dealer, trader”) + Proto-West Germanic *-ārī (suffix forming agent nouns, especially denoting occupations). The further etymology of mangō is uncertain; the following possibilities have been suggested: * From Ancient Greek μαγγανεύω (manganeúō, “to use charms or philtres; to cheat, play tricks; to dress food artificially to make it appear better”), from μάγγᾰνον (mángănon, “means of bewitching, charm, philtre”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European *meng- (“to dress, embellish, trim”); or from Arabic ن ج ل (n j l, root relating to pouring out or thrusting)) + -εύω (-eúō, suffix forming denominative verbs of activity or condition). * From Latin *manicō, *manigō (“deal, trade; to handle, manage (?)”), from manus (“hand”); further etymology uncertain, possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)meh₂- (“to beckon, signal”), or *mon-u-. The verb is either derived from the noun, or is a back-formation from mongering (adjective or noun).
› Chiefly preceded by a descriptive word.
1
A dealer or trader in a specific commodity.
[S]ometime one rich munger or other, buying up a commoditie, and bringing it vvholly into his ovvne hands for to have the monopolie of it, raiſeth the market, and enhaunceth the price: […]1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XXXIII.] Of Sil, Cæruleum, Nestorianum, and Cælum. Also, that All These Kinds Keepe Not the Same Price Everie Yeere..”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 2nd tome, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 485:
With Cracken the attorney, and Mundell the quack, / Send Willie the monger to hell with a smack.a. 1797 (date written), [anonymous], “[The Loyal Natives’ Verses]”, in Robert Burns, The Poetical Works of Robert Burns […], Edinburgh; London: W. P. Nimmo, Hay, & Mitchell […], published [1904], →OCLC, page 294:
1 more example
For the freshest wild catch, ask your monger when the fish are running.2005 November, “The Food Lovers Guide to Los Angeles: 46 Great Ways to Please Your Palate”, in Kit Rachlis, editor, Los Angeles, volume 50, number 11, Los Angeles, Calif.: Emmis Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 111, column 2:
2
Figuratively A person promoting something, especially an undesirable thing.
There is a man haunts the Forreſt, that abuſes our yong plants vvith caruing Roſalinde on their barkes; hangs Oades vpon Hauthornes, and Elegies on brambles; all (forſooth) defying the name of Roſalinde. If I could meet that Fancie-monger, I vvould giue him ſome good counſel, for he ſeemes to have the Quotidian of Loue vpon him.c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 197, column 2:
Fvt[elli]. I am not foot-poaſt, / No pedlar of Aviſo's, no monopoliſt / Of forged Corantos, monger of Gazets. / Pie[ro]. Monger of courtezans, fine Futelli, / In certaine kinde a merchant of the ſtaple / For vvares of uſe and trade, a taker up.c. 1638 May 13 (date licensed; Gregorian calendar), Iohn Ford [i.e., John Ford], The Ladies Triall. […], London: […] E. G. for Henry Shephard, […], published 1639, →OCLC, Act I, signature B, recto:
4 more examples
[T]he impatient Stateſ-Monger / Could novv contain himſelf no longer, / VVho had not ſpar'd to ſhevv his Piques, / Againſt th' Haranguers Politicks?1677 (indicated as 1678), [Samuel Butler], “Canto II”, in Hudibras. The Third and Last Part. […], London: […] Simon Miller, […], →OCLC, page 151:
The nice punctilio-mongers of this age, / The grand minute reformers of the ſtage, / Slaves to propriety of ev'ry kind, / Some ſtandard-meaſure for each part ſhould find; […]1761 March, C[harles] Churchill, The Rosciad. […], 2nd edition, London: […] W[illiam] Flexney, […], published 1761, →OCLC, page 23, lines 509–512:
Yet I hold as little with the humanity-mongers, who deny the necessity and lawfulness of inflicting capital punishment in any case, as with the shallow moralists, who exclaim against vindictive justice, when punishment would cease to be just, if it were not vindictive.1829, Robert Southey, “Colloquy V. Decay of the Feudal System.—Edward VI.—Alfred.”, in Sir Thomas More: or, Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society. […], volume I, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 109:
As a rule, a knight is a lummux, and sometimes even a labrick, and hence open to pretty poor arguments when they come glibly from a superstition-monger, but even he could see the practical side of a thing once in a while; […]1889, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “The Tragedy of the Manor-house”, in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, New York, N.Y.: Charles L. Webster & Company, →OCLC, page 382:
3
Abbreviation, Clipping, Obsolete Clipping of whoremonger (“a frequent customer of whores”).
Here vvas no ſubtle device to get a VVench. / This Chanon [i.e., canon, member of the clergy] has a brave pate of his ovvn! / A ſhaven pate! and a right monger, y' vaith!1633 (first performance), Ben Jonson, “A Tale of a Tub. A Comedy […]”, in The Works of Beniamin Jonson, […] (Third Folio), London: […] Thomas Hodgkin, for H[enry] Herringman, E. Brewster, T. Bassett, R[ichard] Chiswell, M. Wotton, G. Conyers, published 1692, →OCLC, Act II, scene iii, pages 516–517:
The noun is derived from Middle English mongere, mangere (“dealer, merchant, trader”), from Old English mangere (“dealer, merchant, trader”), from Proto-West Germanic *mangārī (“dealer, merchant, monger”), from Latin mangō (“dealer, trader”) + Proto-West Germanic *-ārī (suffix forming agent nouns, especially denoting occupations). The further etymology of mangō is uncertain; the following possibilities have been suggested: * From Ancient Greek μαγγανεύω (manganeúō, “to use charms or philtres; to cheat, play tricks; to dress food artificially to make it appear better”), from μάγγᾰνον (mángănon, “means of bewitching, charm, philtre”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European *meng- (“to dress, embellish, trim”); or from Arabic ن ج ل (n j l, root relating to pouring out or thrusting)) + -εύω (-eúō, suffix forming denominative verbs of activity or condition). * From Latin *manicō, *manigō (“deal, trade; to handle, manage (?)”), from manus (“hand”); further etymology uncertain, possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)meh₂- (“to beckon, signal”), or *mon-u-. The verb is either derived from the noun, or is a back-formation from mongering (adjective or noun).
1
To deal in, peddle, or sell (something).
There were Mongols hawking sheepskins and Chinese vending calendars and pocket calculators, North Koreans flogging jewelry and Vietnamese mongering shirts and leather jackets.1992 May 11, “(please specify the article title)”, in The New Yorker, volume 68, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 41, column 1:
2
Figuratively To promote (something, especially an undesirable thing); to peddle.
She [Grace Kelly] was beautiful and elegant but, above all, good. […] Not even Hedda Hopper could monger scandal in her regard.1978–1985 (date written), Anthony Burgess, “Grace”, in Homage to Qwert Yuiop: Selected Journalism 1978–1985, London: Abacus, Sphere Books, published 1987, →ISBN, page 124:
[T]he paper towel industry has funded or promoted a rash of studies claiming that hand dryers turn bathrooms into mosh pits of pathogens. […] Once these fears have been mongered, their spread is irresistible.2019 April 25, Samanth Subramanian, “Hand dryers v paper towels: the surprisingly dirty fight for the right to dry your hands”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 Jun 2025:
Etymology Origin uncertain, possibly from monger (“dealer or trader in a specific commodity”) (etymology 1); or related to Middle English mangbot (“type of fishing boat used on the Thames”).
[C]erteyne Fyſhermen that go a trawlyng for fyſhe in Catches or mongers, and dradgies for Oyſters about the ſandes, […]1561, Richard Eden, “To the Ryght Worshypfull Syr Wyllyam Garrerd Knyght, and Master Thomas Lodge, Aldermen of the Citie of London, and Gouernours of the Honorable Felowshyp or Societie, aswell of Certaine of the Nobilitie, as of Marchauntes Aduenturers, for the Discouery of Landes, Territories, Ilandes, and Seignories Vnknowen, and Not before Their First Aduenture or Enterprise by Seas or Nauigations Commonly Frequented: And to the Right Worshypfull the Consulles, Assistentes, and Comminaltie of the Same Societie, Richarde Eden Wyssheth Health and Prosperitie”, in Martin Cortes [i.e., Martín Cortés de Albacar], translated by Richard Eden, The Arte of Nauigation: Conteynyng a Compendious Description of the Sphere, with the Makyng of Certen Instrumentes and Rules for Nauigations: and Exemplified by Manye Demonstrations. […], London: […] Richard Jugge, […], →OCLC, signature [¶.iv.], verso:
monger: a small sea-vessel used by fishermen.[[1790], Robert Wilson, The Seaman’s Manual, Containing All the Technical Words and Phrases Used at Sea and Belonging to a Ship; […], London: […] [F]or the trusters, at the Literary-Press, […], →OCLC: