The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word COMMERCE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
C
O
M
M
E
R
C
E
More clues leading to the result COMMERCE
- Arrive with car trapped in traffic
- Bully keeping millions in trade
- Business mass market leaders entered in force
- Use force to recruit thousands for the market
- Millions invested in railroad business
- Force acquiring thousands by way of business
- As Parisian, start to recognise rising city traffic
- Lady making introductions bringing in start of carriage
- Business force established around the last millennium
- Business to begin — right for any number to get involved
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "the market" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case the market = commerce.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does COMMERCE mean?
COMMERCE noun- The exchange or buying and selling of commodities; especially the exchange of merchandise, on a large scale, between different places or communities; extended trade or traffic.
- Social intercourse; the dealings of one person or class in society with another; familiarity.
- Sexual intercourse.
- An 18th-century French card game in which the cards are subject to exchange, barter, or trade.
- To carry on trade; to traffic.
- To hold intercourse; to commune.