silent auction

noun

: an auction in which sealed bids are submitted beforehand

Examples of silent auction in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

New this year, the fundraiser will continue after dinner with an online silent auction open to the public. — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026

The evening, which is for adults 21 and older, features a silent auction, food, drinks, live music by Big Sky Acoustic and wagon rides through the forest preserve. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

On Thursday, the animal shelter held a silent auction among the four contenders who had come forward wanting to adopt him. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

One of the people watching was a very famous songwriter, who won the pig in a silent auction. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for silent auction

• concoction
• decoction