black-market

1 of 2

verb

black-mar·​ket ˈblak-ˈmär-kət How to pronounce black-market (audio)
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
black marketeering 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Yikes: People are getting black-market silicone injected into their butts. Charles Trepany, USA Today, 18 June 2025 Many made their own, reused them, or bought them at black-market prices. Will Ripley, CNN Money, 18 June 2025
Noun
But the company has built a business around identifying illicit services like digital black markets out of the morass of billions of cryptocurrency addresses. Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 5 June 2025 He was featured in Marquardt’s 2021 report on the exorbitant fees being demanded on the black market to evacuate Afghans during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for black-market

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1727, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black-market was in 1727

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Black-market.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-market. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on black-market

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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