black-market

verb black-mar·ket \ ˈblak-ˈmär-kət \

|Updated on: 4 Aug 2018

Examples: black-market in a Sentence

Definition of black-market

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

or black marketeer play \ˈblak-ˌmär-kə-ˈtir\ noun

—

black marketeering

play \ˈblak-ˌmär-kə-ˈtir-iŋ\ noun

First Known Use of black-market

1727

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

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black market

noun

Definition of black market

: illicit trade in goods or commodities in violation of official regulations; also : a place where such trade is carried on

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Examples of black market in a Sentence

The black market in prescription drugs is thriving.
They unloaded the stolen goods on the black market.

Recent Examples of black market from the Web

In other words, the dogs have made a difference, but their efforts cannot fully forestall the efforts of the black market.

— katherine j. wu, Smithsonian, "It’s Pooches vs. Poachers in the Fight Against Wildlife Smugglers," 22 June 2018
Shanghai’s auctions help avoid the creation of a black market.

— The Economist, "Why a licence plate costs more than a car in Shanghai," 19 Apr. 2018
More than 100 people have died of drinking toxic alcohol in Indonesia in April, as a consequence of the black market that thrives in the country with strong curbs on legal alcohol sales.

— eli rosenberg, Washington Post, "Bootlegged liquor kills more than 100 in Indonesia," 11 Apr. 2018
Disciplinary orders from the Missouri Board of Pharmacy show that employees at Walgreens and CVS locations in Kansas City and Independence were caught stealing tens of thousands of opioid pills for personal use or to sell on the black market.

— andy marso, kansascity, "As opioids poured into Missouri, the DEA failed, McCaskill says," 12 July 2018
Younis had been detained and flogged by IS militants for selling cigarettes on the black market to make ends meet, according to his mother, Nada Hassan.

— hamza hendawi, Fox News, "A neighbor's word can bring death sentence in Iraq IS trials," 9 July 2018
Eric Abidal has issued a statement after it was alleged that former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell had illegally purchased a liver on the black market for the Frenchman in 2012.

— SI.com, "Eric Abidal Issues Statement on 'Black Market Liver' Claims as Bizarre Saga Rumbles On," 4 July 2018
On the black market, Zimbabweans who need cash pay $165 from their bank accounts for a $100 bill.

— gabriele steinhauser, WSJ, "Looming Election Is Vital for Zimbabwe," 15 June 2018
The birds fetched up to $600 a pop on the black market.

— travis andersen, BostonGlobe.com, "Mass. banned cockfighting in 1836. But this blood sport just won’t die," 29 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'black market.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of black market

1931

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Financial Definition of BLACK-MARKET

black market

noun

What It Is

A black market is the illegal purchase and sale of goods and services.

How It Works

Drug dealing is one of the most prominent black markets in the United States. In this black market, people buy and sell drugs knowing that such activity is usually illegal and that possessing the products themselves is usually illegal. Regardless, the demand for drugs is high enough to trump the law, though people usually attempt to conceal their participation.

Many black markets exist beyond drugs, however, and though the products or services may be legal, the manner in which they are bought and sold may be illegal. For example, it is legal to have a cleaning lady, but it is illegal to hire a cleaning lady who is not in the United States legally.

Because regulatory constraints may increase the price of some goods and services, in some cases regulation can actually prompt the development of black markets. This was particularly the case in the early 1900s, when the United States outlawed alcohol, which created a massive black market for the production, transportation and sale of liquor.

Why It Matters

The presence of black markets all over the world is evidence that the laws of supply and demand are virtually impossible to defy. When regulation or taxation becomes too high, when supply and demand are way out of balance, or when competition has been too restricted, people will always look for a way to get goods or services cheaper, faster or more easily.

Source: Investing Answers