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Synonyms

carriage trade

American  

noun

  1. wealthy patrons of a store, restaurant, theater, etc.; elite clientele.


carriage trade British  

noun

  1. trade from the wealthy part of society

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of carriage trade

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“The Aviator and the Showman” is a lavish, layered narrative, a primer on early aviation and the transition of publishing from genteel carriage trade to an industry increasingly reliant on blockbusters.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 11, 2025

Gucci was founded in 1921 by Guccio Gucci, a Florentine, to make leather goods for the carriage trade.

From New York Times Jan. 13, 2020

He called the horse carriage trade a “humane industry that is well regulated by New York City’s Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene and Consumer Affairs.”

From Time Apr. 19, 2014

Tennie referred contemptuously to the hypocrisy of Madame Restell’s carriage trade.

From Salon Mar. 9, 2014

Robert had gone ahead rapidly with his scheme for reorganizing the carriage trade.

From Jennie Gerhardt A Novel by Theodore Dreiser

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