Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not fit for sale; not suitable for being sold or marketed: Describes goods, products, or items that are of such poor quality, condition, or nature that they cannot be offered for sale in the ordinary course of trade. This can be due to defects, spoilage, illegality, or failure to meet basic standards.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:
  • The batch of canned food was declared unmerchantable due to a compromised seal.
  • Goods damaged during transit are often considered unmerchantable and must be returned to the supplier.
  • The law implies a warranty that goods sold will be of merchantable quality, so unmerchantable items breach this condition.

Advanced Usage

• Legal and Commercial Context: The term is frequently used in legal, commercial, and shipping contexts. It relates to the implied warranty of merchantability in contract law, where sellers guarantee that goods are fit for their ordinary purpose.
  • The court ruled the software was unmerchantable as it failed to perform its basic advertised functions.

Variants and Related Words

• Merchantable (adj): Fit for sale; of a quality acceptable in the marketplace.
  • The merchantable goods were quickly shipped to retailers.
• Unmerchantability (n): The state or condition of being unfit for sale.
  • The buyer sued for damages due to the product's unmerchantability.

Synonyms

• Unsaleable (adj): Not able to be sold.
• Unmarketable (adj): Not fit or able to be marketed or sold.
• Defective (adj): Imperfect or faulty (often leading to being unmerchantable).

Antonyms

• Merchantable (adj): Fit for sale.
• Saleable (adj): Able to be sold.
• Marketable (adj): Fit to be offered for sale; in demand.

Adjective

1. not fit for sale