SINCE 1828
trade
noun
\ ˈtrād
\
\
Definition of trade
(Entry 1 of 3)
b
obsolete
: dealings between persons or groups
2a
: an act or instance of trading : transaction
also
: an exchange of property usually without use of money
b
: a firm's customers : clientele
c
: the group of firms engaged in a business or industry
3a
: an occupation requiring manual or mechanical skill : craft
b
: the business or work in which one engages regularly : occupation
c
: the persons engaged in an occupation, business, or industry
4
: a customary course of action : practice
thy sin's not accidental, but a trade— William Shakespeare
5
: trade wind
—usually used in plural
6
: a publication intended for persons in the entertainment business
—usually used in plural
trade
verb
traded;
trading
Definition of trade (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: to give one thing in exchange for another
2a
: to engage in the exchange, purchase, or sale of goods
b
: to make one's purchases : shop
trades at his store
3
: sell sense 3
b
: to engage in frequent buying and selling of (stocks, commodities, etc.) usually in search of quick profits
2
archaic
: to do business with
trade on
: to take often unscrupulous advantage of : exploit
traded on their influence … in securing special favors— T. C. Pease
trade
adjectiveDefinition of trade (Entry 3 of 3)
1
: of, relating to, or used in trade
2a
: intended for or limited to persons in a business or industry
a trade publication trade sales
b
: serving others in the same business rather than the ultimate user or consumer
a trade printing house
3
or less commonly trades
: of, composed of, or representing the trades or trade unions
a trade committee
4
: having a larger softcover format than that of a mass-market paperback and usually sold only in bookstores
trade paperbacks
also
: of or relating to the publishing of such books
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from trade
Verb
tradable
or less commonly tradeable \ ˈtrā-də-bəl
\
adjective
\
adjective
Synonyms for trade
Synonyms: Noun
back-and-forth, barter, commutation, dicker, exchange, quid pro quo, swap, trade-off, truck
Synonyms: Verb
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of trade in a Sentence
Noun
the trade between the two countries Trade accounts for half of our gross national product. The Tigers made a few good trades this season and picked up some promising players.Verb
If you don't like your seat, I'll trade with you. I traded seats with her halfway through the show. He was traded to the Yankees. They traded him to the Broncos. I traded my pen for a pencil and kept writing. Their firm specializes in trading bonds. She mostly trades in stocks.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The tingling formula promises to absorb excess oil with bamboo charcoal from the Himalayan foothills, green tea leaves from Japan, and organic community-trade tea tree oil from Kenya — and without parabens, paraffin, silicone, or mineral oil. — Marci Robin, Allure, "The Body Shop’s Charcoal Mask Is Sold Once Every 15 Seconds," 18 May 2019 That could strengthen America’s hand in trade negotiations with the People’s Republic. — Nathaniel Taplin, WSJ, "Europe Wants a Better Deal With China Too," 11 Apr. 2019 Target's popular car seat trade-in program is back! — Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, "Here's When Target's Popular Car Seat Trade-In Event Is Happening," 9 Apr. 2019 How was your time at the wonderfully exhausting High Point Market trade fair? — Charles Curkin, ELLE Decor, "Designer Leyden Lewis Wants to Cover Your Staircase in Leather," 15 Apr. 2019 The show, which opened March 21 after a brief preview run, grossed $1.3 million for the week ended this past Sunday, its best seven-day period to date, according to the Broadway League, the industry’s trade group. — Charles Passy, WSJ, "The Temptations Are Hitting Record High Notes on Broadway," 8 Apr. 2019 The option to make money or trade clothing gives shoppers a whole new way to switch up their wardrobes without overspending. — Alyssa Hardy, Teen Vogue, "In The Future We’ll All Probably Be Wearing Used Clothing," 20 Mar. 2019 Warren is firmly supportive of causes like economic reform, trade, taxes, and the environment. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Bruce Mann, Elizabeth Warren's Husband, Is Low-Key But Incredibly Supportive," 29 Jan. 2019 Between her podcast, newsletter, film projects, and work with 3M, Couric found time to break down the tricks to her trade. — Glamour, "The Products That Give Katie Couric Instant On-Air Hair," 28 Mar. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The signing comes a month after general manager Dave Gettleman stunned many by trading Beckham to the Browns for the No. — Tom Canavan, The Seattle Times, "After trading Beckham, Giants made sure Shepard stays," 12 Apr. 2019 Cardi would very likely give a much better, much more truthful rebuttal to a State of the Union address, which Trump has now agreed to postpone after trading a series of aggressive letters with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. — Vogue, "Stephen Colbert (And Thousands of Other People) Want Cardi B to Give the State of the Union Rebuttal," 24 Jan. 2019 Hailey Bieber surprised fans this week by trading her signature blonde style for bubblegum pink hair. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Hailey Bieber Just Dyed Her Hair Bubblegum Pink, & She Looks Incredible," 12 Jan. 2019 And Trump’s tariffs on all imported steel and aluminum, which went into effect in March, have led other US trading partners to add their own retaliatory duties on American goods, including dairy, pork, apples, and potatoes. — Alexia Fernández Campbell, Vox, "Trump’s trade war on Christmas," 29 Nov. 2018 The visit also comes as China is reaching out to trade partners amid a tariff war with the United States. — Fox News, "China's Xi plans to meet Putin on visit to Russian port city," 7 Sep. 2018 Last year was a transition season behind promising starting guards Jamal Murray and Gary Harris, as Denver parted ways with 36-year-old Jameer Nelson and then gave up on Emmanuel Mudiay by trading the 2015 lottery pick to New York. — Ben Golliver, SI.com, "Grades: Isaiah Thomas Can Rejuvenate Career in Nuggets' Low-Risk Gamble," 13 July 2018 After trading Jerian Grant to the Magic last week, there’s a strong sense around the Bulls that they’re not done making moves this offseason. — K.c. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Fellow Duke big man Harry Giles praises Bulls' Wendell Carter Jr.," 12 July 2018 Chinese leaders have emphasized the benefits to foreign companies from trading with the world's second-largest economy in an effort to deflect pressure to change industrial plans communist leaders see as a route to prosperity and global influence. — Joe Mcdonald, USA TODAY, "European exporters shift trade and supply chains to avoid higher US tariffs," 10 July 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
The physical components of that particular device were not trade secrets or protected by federal law from being disclosed, the court filing said. — Chris Fuchs, NBC News, "Scientist Formerly Accused of Spying Sues Alleging FBI Agent Falsified Evidence," 11 May 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for trade
trade
noun
English Language Learners Definition of trade
(Entry 1 of 2)
: the activity or process of buying, selling, or exchanging goods or services
: the amount of things or services that are bought and sold : the money made by buying and selling things or services
: the act of exchanging one thing for another
trade
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of trade (Entry 2 of 2)
: to give something to someone and receive something in return : to give something in exchange for something else
US, sports
: to give (one of your players) to another team in exchange for one of their players
: to stop using (one thing) and start using another
See the full definition for trade in the English Language Learners Dictionary
trade
noun
\ ˈtrād
\
\
Kids Definition of trade
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: the business or work in which a person takes part regularly : occupation
2
: the business of buying and selling items : commerce
3
: an occupation requiring manual or mechanical skill : craft
4
: an act of trading : transaction
5
: the persons working in a business or industry
6
: a firm's customers
trade
verb
traded;
trading
Kids Definition of trade (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to give in exchange for something else
I'll trade my apple for your banana.
2
: to take part in the exchange, purchase, or sale of goods
Our country trades in many parts of the world.
3
: to deal regularly as a customer
Because of bad service, I don't trade there anymore.
trade
nounLegal Definition of trade
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: the business or work in which one engages regularly
b
: an occupation requiring manual or mechanical skill
c
: the persons engaged in an occupation
2
: the business of buying and selling or bartering commodities
3
: an act or instance of trading
also
: an exchange of property usually without use of money
trade
verb
traded;
trading
Legal Definition of trade (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: to engage in the exchange, purchase, or sale of goods
2
: to give one thing in exchange for another
3
: to engage in selling
1
: to give in exchange for another commodity
also
: to make an exchange of
2
: to engage in frequent buying and selling of (as stocks or commodities) usually in search of quick profits
trade
adjectiveLegal Definition of trade (Entry 3 of 3)
1
: of, relating to, or used in trade or in a particular trade or business
2
also trades
: of, composed of, or representing the trades or labor unions
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on trade
What made you want to look up trade? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!
-
- Which is a synonym of fuliginous?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!
No tricks, just difficult words.
Take the quiz -
Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?
Which word entered the English language first?
Take the quiz -
Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz -
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!
Play the game
Share trade
Resources for trade