TERMIUM Plus®

From: Translation Bureau

On social media

Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.

GENERAL MERCHANDISE [11 records]

Record 1 2026-01-08

English

Subject field(s)
  • Foreign Trade
  • Transport of Goods
DEF

A general term relating to any of several documents customarily associated with the international shipment of merchandise. Among these documents are a bill of lading, certificate of origin, customs or consular invoice, insurance certificate, dock receipt, and inspection certificates. Shipping documents are usually required by letters of credit and in transactions involving bills of lading.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Commerce extérieur
  • Transport de marchandises
CONT

Le transport de marchandises de type classique qui ne fait appel qu'à un seul mode de transport, a provoqué la création d'un document de transport propre à chaque mode de transport. Ce type de document ne s'applique qu'au seul mode de transport concerné. Il est émis au commencement de ce transport par l'exécutant réel dont il règle la responsabilité pour perte ou avarie à la marchandise survenue pendant la période de prise en charge, en se référant à la Convention internationale ou à la loi nationale applicable à ce mode de transport.

OBS

Loi sur le transport des marchandises dangereuses.

PHR

préparation, certification et transmission des documents d'expédition.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Comercio exterior
  • Transporte de mercancías
Save record 1

Record 2 2025-03-11

English

Subject field(s)
  • Various Military Titles
  • Military Finances
  • Trade
OBS

The Canadian Forces Exchange System(CANEX) is Canada's Military Store – a national retailer and a division of CFMWS [Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services]. Unlike other general merchandise retailers, CANEX is part of the Canadian Armed Forces(CAF) community.

OBS

CANEX is the store sign and the title normally in use.

OBS

Canadian Forces Exchange System; CANEX: designations to be used by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Appellations militaires diverses
  • Finances militaires
  • Commerce
OBS

Les Économats des Forces canadiennes (CANEX) sont le magasin militaire du Canada – un détaillant national et une division des SBMFC [Services de bien-être et moral des Forces canadiennes]. Contrairement à d’autres détaillants de marchandise générale, CANEX fait partie de la communauté des Forces armées canadiennes (FAC).

OBS

CANEX est l'enseigne des magasins et le titre généralement en usage.

OBS

Les Économats des Forces canadiennes; CANEX : désignations d'usage obligatoire au ministère de la Défense nationale et dans les Forces canadiennes.

Spanish

Save record 2

Record 3 2023-05-16

English

Subject field(s)
  • Metrology and Units of Measure
DEF

A unit for measuring mass that is equal to approximately 454 grams.

OBS

In the avoirdupois system, ... in a general use in English-speaking countries, one pound equals 16 ounces (about 454 g). In the troy system, used for precious metals and gems, one pound equals 12 troy ounces (about 373 g).

OBS

1 kg = 2.205 pounds avoirdupois.

OBS

pound: The plural forms are "pounds" and "pound" (especially when used collectively).

OBS

lb.; lb: used as singular or collective plural abbreviations.

OBS

lbs.; lbs: used as plural abbreviations.

OBS

pound : A measure of weight and mass derived from the ancient Roman "libra"(=327. 25 grams), but very [often] modified in the course of ages in different countries, and... used for different classes of things; in Great Britain, now fixed for use in trade by a Parliamentary standard. Denoted by "lb. "(Latin "libra"). Formerly used without change in the pl., a usage still sometimes retained after a numeral, esp. dial. and colloq., also in comb. as "a five pound note, ""a twenty pound shot. "This pound consisted originally of 12 ounces, corresponding more or less to that of troy weight, which contains 5760 grains=373. 26 grams. This is still used by goldsmiths and jewellers in stating the weight of gold, silver, and precious stones, but as early as the thirteenth or fourteenth century, a pound of sixteen ounces was in use for more bulky commodities. This was made a standard for general purposes of trade by Edward III, and known as the pound "aveir de peis, "i. e. of merchandise of weight, now called "avoirdupois. "This pound of 16 ounces, containing 7000 grains=453. 6 grams, has been since 1826 the only legal pound for buying or selling any commodity in Great Britain. In former times, the pound varied locally from 12 to 27 ounces, according to the commodity, pounds of different weight being often used in the same place for different articles such as bread, butter, cheese, meat, malt, hay, wool... The Scotch pound of 16 ounces of Troy or Dutch Weight consisted of 7608. 9496 grains; the Tron pound kept at Edinburgh=9622. 67 grains. "Pound" is also used to translate foreign names of weights, of cognate origin or representatives of Latin "libra. "These vary greatly : in Italy, between 300 and 350 grams, in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and some German states, between 459 and 469 grams, and in other German states, Denmark, etc., between 477 and 510. 22 grams. But the standard German "Pfund" is now 500 grams, i. e. half a kilogram.

OBS

With regard to the pound, the values currently in use are: 1 imperial standard pound = 0.453 592 338 kgm. [kilogram]; 1 Canadian pound = 0.453 592 43 kgm.; 1 United States pound = 0.453 592 4277 kgm.

Key term(s)
  • lbs
  • avoirdupoids pound
  • pound avoirdupoids
  • pound avpd
  • avoir-du-pois pound
  • avoir-du-poids pound
  • pound avoir-du-poids
  • pound avoir-du-pois

French

Domaine(s)
  • Unités de mesure et métrologie
DEF

Unité de poids anglo-saxonne valant 16 onces ou environ 0,454 kg.

OBS

lb : Le symbole s'écrit sans point et sans «s» au pluriel (1 lb, 20 lb).

OBS

Cette unité a déjà été utilisée en France, et son poids variait, selon les provinces, entre 380 et 550 grammes. Aujourd'hui le mot «livre» est utilisé pour désigner un demi-kilogramme. Exemples : Acheter une livre de beurre, de fraises, de café, de sucre. Demi-livre, quart de livre. Une livre et demie. Haltère de trente livres. Le Canada a officiellement adopté le système métrique; l'emploi du mot «livre», dans le sens strict de l'unité de mesure anglo-saxonne équivalant à 0,454 kg, subsiste encore, mais est appelé à disparaître.

OBS

Le Canada a officiellement adopté le système métrique en 1970. Les unités métriques (grammes, kilogrammes, centimètres, mètres, kilomètres, litres, etc.) remplacent les traditionnelles unités impériales également utilisées par les États-Unis (livre, pouces, pieds, verges, milles, pintes, etc.). Cependant, la résistance de son principal partenaire commercial, les États-Unis, à l'adoption du système métrique, ainsi que la résistance dans la population au nouveau système ont fait que le Canada vit toujours, en 2014, avec les deux systèmes, le Système international (SI) et le système impérial. Au Canada, la livre de 0,454 kg, par exemple, demeure d'usage courant dans le commerce, notamment pour les denrées alimentaires.

Key term(s)
  • livre avoirdupoids

Spanish

Save record 3

Record 4 2021-10-14

English

Subject field(s)
  • Occupation Names (General)
  • Organization Planning
  • Labour and Employment
CONT

[The people] employed by businesses that were permitted to continue operations(such as hospitals, transportation systems, and food manufacturing) [are considered] essential workers; those employed by businesses that were forced to temporarily close(including mining activities, construction, and general merchandise stores) are considered non-essential workers.

Key term(s)
  • nonessential worker

French

Domaine(s)
  • Désignations des emplois (Généralités)
  • Planification d'organisation
  • Travail et emploi

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Nombramiento de cargos (Generalidades)
  • Planificación de organización
  • Trabajo y empleo
CONT

Restricciones: trabajadores no esenciales no podrán circular entre Ciudad y Provincia. Sólo podrán cruzar de una jurisdicción a otra los esenciales.

Save record 4

Record 5 2015-08-26

English

Subject field(s)
  • Financial Accounting
  • Financial and Budgetary Management
  • Productivity and Profitability
DEF

... the costs associated with a company’s main operating activities and which are reported on its income statement.

OBS

For example, a retailer's main operating activities are the buying and selling of merchandise or goods. Therefore, its operating expenses will include the cost of goods sold... selling, general and administrative expenses...

Key term(s)
  • operating expense
  • operating cost

French

Domaine(s)
  • Comptabilité générale
  • Gestion budgétaire et financière
  • Productivité et rentabilité
DEF

Ensemble des charges ou des coûts engagés dans le cadre des activités normales et courantes de l'entité, y compris le coût des marchandises ou des produits vendus.

OBS

charges opérationnelles : Étant donné les conceptions divergentes existant d'un pays à l'autre au sujet du classement des éléments exceptionnels dans l'état des résultats (ou compte de résultat), pour éviter toute erreur d'interprétation, les «operating expenses» ont été désignées par l'expression «charges opérationnelles» dans la version française des normes comptables internationales.

Key term(s)
  • charge d'exploitation
  • charge opérationnelle
  • dépense d'exploitation

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Contabilidad general
  • Gestión presupuestaria y financiera
  • Productividad y rentabilidad
DEF

Los gastos, aparte de los del financiamiento, de llevar a cabo las actividades de una empresa. Los gastos de venta, generales y administrativos no se incluyen usualmente como un gasto de operación, pero sí se incorporan como gastos separados en la contabilidad del ingreso.

Key term(s)
  • gasto de operación
  • gasto de funcionamiento
Save record 5

Record 6 2014-11-25

English

Subject field(s)
  • Titles of Conventions, Treaties and Agreements (Documents)
  • Customs and Excise
  • Foreign Trade
OBS

Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade laid down the general principles for an international system of valuation. It stipulated that the value for customs purposes of imported merchandise should be based on the actual value of the imported merchandise on which duty is assessed, or of like merchandise, and should not be based on the value of merchandise of national origin or on arbitrary or fictitious values.

Key term(s)
  • WTO Valuation Agreement

French

Domaine(s)
  • Titres de conventions, de traités et d'accords (Documents)
  • Douanes et accise
  • Commerce extérieur

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Títulos de convenciones, tratados y acuerdos (Documentos)
  • Aduana e impuestos internos
  • Comercio exterior
Key term(s)
  • Acuerdo de Valoración de la OMC
Save record 6

Record 7 2005-10-18

English

Subject field(s)
  • Customs and Excise
  • Foreign Trade
DEF

The administrative processing associated with foreign merchandise that has landed in [the country] for consumption, warehousing, or other reasons ... [It] involves the submission to customs of documents that identify the owner of the goods, the type and character of the merchandise, value for duty purposes, and other relevant information upon which the customs authorities may rely in deciding whether the merchandise is permitted admission into the [country], which permits or licenses, if any, apply to the importation, and what rate of duty is to be assessed.

CONT

All imports must be entered within five working days of arrival at a U. S. [United States] port of entry, unless an extension of time is permitted by the district or area director of customs. Failure to make entry within the prescribed time period will cause the goods to fall into the condition of "general order" under which the unentered merchandise will be transported into a customs bonded warehouse; the goods will remain there, at the owner's expense, until entry is effected.

OBS

Compare with "customs clearance" and "customs release".

French

Domaine(s)
  • Douanes et accise
  • Commerce extérieur
DEF

Acte par lequel une personne manifeste dans les formes et manières prescrites, la volonté d'assigner à une marchandise un régime douanier et de mettre fin à un tel régime.

OBS

Comparer avec «dédouanement», «mainlevée douanière» et «évaluation en douane».

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Aduana e impuestos internos
  • Comercio exterior
DEF

Declaración que debe realizarse del modo prescrito por la aduana, mediante la cual las personas interesadas indican qué régimen aduanero pretenden aplicar a las mercancías y suministran los detalles informativos que la aduana requiere para la aplicación del régimen elegido.

OBS

Compárese con "despacho aduanero", "retiro de mercancías", "liberación de mercancías", "aforo de mercancías".

PHR

Efectuar una declaración de aduanas de mercancías.

Save record 7

Record 8 2004-05-04

English

Subject field(s)
  • Titles of Monographs
OBS

Since 1986, VICS has worked to improve the efficiency of the entire supply chain. VICS establishes cross-industry standards that simplify the flow of product and information in the general merchandise retail industry for retailers and suppliers alike.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Titres de monographies
Key term(s)
  • VICS Association

Spanish

Save record 8

Record 9 2001-12-11

English

Subject field(s)
  • Foreign Trade
DEF

A Japanese general trading company; imports and exports merchandise.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Commerce extérieur

Spanish

Save record 9

Record 10 2001-02-01

English

Subject field(s)
  • Notions
  • Special-Language Phraseology
  • Trade
  • Textile Industries
DEF

Textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and notions as distinguished from hardware, jewelry, groceries, and wet goods.

CONT

The Bahamas imports foodstuffs, clothing, dry goods, motor vehicles, building supplies, hardware and general merchandise of every description.

OBS

dry goods: Term sometimes used in the singular (dry good).

Key term(s)
  • dry good

French

Domaine(s)
  • Mercerie
  • Phraséologie des langues de spécialité
  • Commerce
  • Industries du textile
CONT

Les Bahamas importent des produits alimentaires, des vêtements, de la mercerie et des nouveautés, des véhicules motorisés, du matériel pour la construction, du matériel informatique et des marchandises diverses.

OBS

mercerie : Ensemble de marchandises destinées à la couture, aux travaux d'aiguille. Articles de mercerie : aiguilles, fils, boutons, rubans, fermetures éclair, dentelles, broderies, etc.

OBS

marchandises sèches : Ce terme est déconseillé dans ce sens. Il est par contre utilisé dans le domaine du transport (marchandises en colis ou constituées de produits solides, par opposition aux cargaisons liquides).

OBS

tissus et articles de mercerie; nouveautés; marchandises sèches : Termes employés au pluriel dans ce contexte.

Key term(s)
  • article de mercerie

Spanish

Save record 10

Record 11 1990-04-24

English

Subject field(s)
  • Storehouses and Warehouses
CONT

Cargo carried on barge decks include general merchandise and pressure silos of bulk drilling muds and cements.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Magasins de stockage

Spanish

Save record 11

Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank

© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau

Features

GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)

Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.

Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.

Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.

Date Modified: