stock-in-trade
noun
ˌstäk-ən-ˈtrād 
ˈstäk-ən-ˌtrād
1
: the equipment, merchandise, or materials necessary to or used in a trade or business
2
: something that resembles the standard equipment of a tradesman or business
humor was her stock-in-trade as a writer
Examples of stock-in-trade in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In his mid-40s and unassuming, Clarke is the rare interlocutor who seems to listen without waiting to speak, a far cry from people in the biz whose stock-in-trade is summed up by the very word: production.
—
Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
Unbridled opinion was his stock-in-trade.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Aides and allies proceeded to threaten Denmark with force, using the kind of online hyperbole that is Trump’s stock-in-trade.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
But cheese is Mosgrove’s stock-in-trade.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Paying attention—really paying attention—is their stock-in-trade.
—Richard Renaldi, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
His stock-in-trade is building café racers based on BMW R- and K-series engines that distill each unique design into the most elemental of motorcycles.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 11 June 2025
At the same time, H&M reported lower stock-in-trade levels, signaling tighter inventory control and improved supply-chain management.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Your stock-in-trade as a TV news division is landing the video no one else has.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
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Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
Unbridled opinion was his stock-in-trade.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Aides and allies proceeded to threaten Denmark with force, using the kind of online hyperbole that is Trump’s stock-in-trade.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
But cheese is Mosgrove’s stock-in-trade.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Paying attention—really paying attention—is their stock-in-trade.
—Richard Renaldi, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
His stock-in-trade is building café racers based on BMW R- and K-series engines that distill each unique design into the most elemental of motorcycles.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 11 June 2025
At the same time, H&M reported lower stock-in-trade levels, signaling tighter inventory control and improved supply-chain management.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Your stock-in-trade as a TV news division is landing the video no one else has.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Stock-in-trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stock-in-trade. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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