: an item of merchandise (such as an automobile or refrigerator) taken as payment or part payment for a purchase
traded in; trading in; trades in
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
Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Only eligible items will qualify for the trade-in, so those that pose hygiene issues, like cotton T-shirts or headwear, are less likely to be accepted.
—Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
Mason Leib, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Drafted by the Mets in 2020, Ginn was sent west to Oakland in the Chris Bassitt trade in 2022.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trade-in
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Noun
When is Target's car seat trade-in event?
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Only eligible items will qualify for the trade-in, so those that pose hygiene issues, like cotton T-shirts or headwear, are less likely to be accepted.
—Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Trudeau traded in his traditional business attire for more festival-appropriate gear for the day, donning a white T-shirt, backwards cap and blue jeans.
—Mason Leib, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Drafted by the Mets in 2020, Ginn was sent west to Oakland in the Chris Bassitt trade in 2022.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trade-in
Cite this Entry
“Trade-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade-in. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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