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

Yet restrictive regulations were immediately imposed on licensed operators anyway — a case of punishing the legal market for a serious black-market failure that federal law helped enable. —Rino Ferrarese, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026

Land’s writings from the nineties have a seductive danger, envisioning a sci-fi future of synthetic drugs, black-market brain implants, gene editing, and cyborgs. —James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026

Noun

Owner’s past Whatever the reason for not following up on the tip, the failure to travel to Esparto to inspect Devastating Pyrotechnics operations allowed an extensive black market operation to continue without scrutiny. —Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 9 Mar. 2026

Residents who relied on kratom for chronic pain and opioid withdrawal now struggle to access the substance, turning to online orders and black markets. —Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026

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