trade-in

1 of 2

noun

: an item of merchandise (such as an automobile or refrigerator) taken as payment or part payment for a purchase

trade in

2 of 2

verb

traded in; trading in; trades in

transitive verb

1
: to turn in as payment or part payment for a purchase or bill
trade the old car in on a new one
2

Examples of trade-in 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
The popular Target car seat trade-in event is making a return this year, offering discounts on future car seats and baby gear purchases for customers who trade in their old car seat or base. Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025 These are likely promotional prices that will change, whereas Apple’s iPhone 17 trade-in pricing will remain static. Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Many people who bought cars during the pandemic, for example, paid shockingly high, premium prices for those vehicles and could still owe a good deal of money on their loans even after trading in the car. Susan Tompor, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025 As aforementioned, the two countries have increasingly settled trade in Yuan and Rubles and have been increasingly cut out of Western markets through tariffs and sanctions. Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trade-in

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1915, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trade-in was in 1891

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Trade-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade-in. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

trade-in

1 of 2 noun
ˈtrād-ˌin
: something given in trade usually as part payment for a purchase

trade in

2 of 2 verb
(ˈ)trād-ˈin
: to turn in as a payment or part payment for a purchase

More from Merriam-Webster on trade-in

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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