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
This fall, the air board shuttered the entire program and shifted the remaining $18 million in e-bike funds to a car trade-in program. Hannah Ruhoff, Sacbee.com, 17 Dec. 2025 The proceeds will also be directed toward equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
Verb
Shares started trading in India on Friday. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025 Through the car initiative, low-income Californians can trade in older, more polluting vehicles and receive a voucher to help pay for newer, less-polluting hybrid or electric vehicles. Hannah Ruhoff, Sacbee.com, 17 Dec. 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 24 Dec. 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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