gray market

noun

Synonyms of gray marketnext
: a market employing irregular but not illegal methods
especially : a market that legally circumvents authorized channels of distribution to sell goods at prices lower than those intended by the manufacturer

Examples of gray market 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.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is seeking to prevent American Shaman, the Kansas City company at the forefront of a sprawling gray market, from selling an opioid that’s available at gas stations and smoke shops across the country. Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026 As a result, many unsafe peptides are sold on a booming gray market, including directly to consumers by entities in the U.S. and abroad that are skirting FDA rules. Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 13 Mar. 2026 Outside of the clinic, an eager gray market has sprung up, selling unofficial versions of the drugs. Bethany Brookshire, Scientific American, 6 Feb. 2026 Once a gray market is thriving, who, if anyone, will foot the bill for rigorous research? Sara Talpos — Undark, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gray market

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gray market was in 1934

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gray market.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gray%20market. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

Legal Definition

gray market

noun
: a market employing irregular but not illegal methods
especially : a market that legally circumvents authorized channels of distribution to sell goods at prices lower than those intended by the manufacturer

More from Merriam-Webster on gray market

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster