fair-trade

1 of 2

verb

fair-traded; fair-trading; fair-trades

transitive verb

: to market (a commodity) in compliance with the provisions of a fair-trade agreement
fair trader noun

fair trade

2 of 2

noun

1
: trade in conformity with a fair-trade agreement
2
: a movement whose goal is to help producers in developing countries to get a fair price for their products so as to reduce poverty, provide for the ethical treatment of workers and farmers, and promote environmentally sustainable practices

Examples of fair-trade in a Sentence

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.
Noun
Muted, earthy tones and textures fit perfectly into the beachy, bohemian Tulum design aesthetic, made even better by the shop's dedication to fair trade principles and local, ethical sourcing. Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2025 Caleb had just left a career in wine importing to be closer to family in Viroqua, and TJ and Denise had recently moved from Minneapolis, where TJ was working in fair trade coffee. Christopher Marquis, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 There’s also local maple syrup and spices, hostess gifts, fair trade items from Asia and Central America, and body care products. Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2025 Cathedral Cafe is open for lunch and dinner daily except Wednesdays, serving textbook-classic café fare with a focus on local or fair trade ingredients where possible. Jessie Beck, AFAR Media, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fair-trade

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1947, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fair-trade was in 1914

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Fair-trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fair-trade. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

fair trade

noun
1
: trade conforming to a fair trade agreement
2
: a movement that aims to help producers in developing countries get a fair price for their products so as to reduce poverty, provide for ethical treatment of workers and farmers, and promote environmentally sustainable practices
fair trade verb

Legal Definition

fair-trade

transitive verb
: to market (a commodity) in compliance with the provisions of a fair-trade agreement
fair trade noun
fair trader noun

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