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

Older phones generally tell the real story of a company’s trade-in game. —Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Today, the 2002 Ford Mustang has depreciated $431 or 12% in the last three years and has a current resale value of $2,910 and trade-in value of $1,506. —Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 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

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
• underpin
• violin
• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• deerskin

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