black-market

1 of 2

verb

black-mar·​ket ˈblak-ˈmär-kət 

black-marketed; black-marketing; black-markets

intransitive verb

: to buy or sell goods in the black market

transitive verb

: to sell in the black market

black marketer noun

or black marketeer

ˈblak-ˌmär-kə-ˈtir 

black marketeering

ˈblak-ˌmär-kə-ˈtir-iŋ 

noun

black market

2 of 2

noun

: illicit trade in goods or commodities in violation of official regulations

also : a place where such trade is carried on

Examples of black-market in a Sentence

Noun

The black market in prescription drugs is thriving.

They unloaded the stolen goods on the black market.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Cannabis executives warned that rising popularity could drive billions in black-market sales, where products face no testing, no age restrictions and no tax compliance. —Luke Fountain, CNBC, 13 Nov. 2025

Ben’s baby girl is sick, and black-market meds require money. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025

Noun

Even then, with the robbery in the headlines and police on the trail, the jewels in any form would likely have been too hot to handle, even on the black market. —John Miller, CNN Money, 19 Nov. 2025

Nearly four dozen charges to date The focus of Minnesota’s organized retail theft law is on people stealing items to resell on the black market, most always online. —Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 15 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1727, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1931, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for black-market

• nonmarket
• premarket
• upmarket
• aftermarket
• patriarchate
• supermarket
• market

Kids Definition

black market

noun

: trade that is against government controls (as of prices or rationing)

also : the place where such trade is carried on

black marketer

-ˈmär-kət-ər

noun

or black marketeer

-ˌmär-kə-ˈti(ə)r