unmerchantableadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈməːtʃ(ə)ntəbl/, U.S. /ˌənˈmərtʃən(t)əb(ə)l/ Unsuitable for sale or purchase; unsaleable, unmarketable.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > [adjective] > able to be sold > not
unsaleable1565
unmerchantable1602
unvendible1642
unmarketable1654
unsellinga1704
invendible1706
unvendable1753
sales-resistant1957
unsellable1975
1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall ii. f. 105v They feed on salt vnmarchantable Pilcherd.
1670 J. Smith England's Improvem. Reviv'd 264 Vending any unmerchandable Ware..at lower Rates.
1722 London Gaz. No. 6042/6 Wines..corrupt, or unmerchantable.
1763 Brit. Mag. 4 174 Damaged and unmerchantable wines.
1818 H. T. Colebrooke On Import Colonial Corn 9 A permission to dispose of his goods..before they are..rendered unmerchantable by decay.
1896 Law Times Rep. 73 649/1 So damaged by water as to be unmerchantable as dates.
1940 Frederick (Maryland) Post 7 Aug. 6/7 To provide for the disposition of any oysters that have been declared unmerchantable.
1991 J. D. Matthews Silvicultural Syst. vi. 83 Most of the defective and otherwise unmerchantable trees are also felled to clear the patch.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1602