trade-in

1 of 2

noun

ˈtrād-ˌin 

: 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

: exchange sense 2

Examples of trade-in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Their trade-in programs and other promotions reduce the final cost to consumers. — Jeff Marks,morgan Chittum, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

If analyst predictions prove correct and the iPhone Fold tops out at $2,400, Apple will have to find a way to make that enticing through pre-order deals and high trade-in prices. — Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Verb

Among the roughly 500,000 options contracts traded in SpaceX on Thursday, 335,000 were calls, with 168,000 of those calls likely bought, SpotGamma data shows, compared with just 75,000 puts purchased. — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Canada’s response to Trump’s persistent tariff saber rattling has also illustrated key differences in the way North American trading partners are approaching trade in the 21st century. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1915, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for trade-in

• aneurin
• crystallin
• eosin
• mandolin
• porphyrin
• superfine
• underpin
• vietminh
• violin
• akin
• auxin
• buckskin

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