as in trade
a system through which things are bought and sold illegally
The black market in prescription drugs is thriving. They unloaded the stolen goods on the black market.
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as in to smuggle
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of black-market
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 6 July 2025
At the ghetto wall, German soldiers shoot at Jewish children who had tunnelled beneath to find black-market exchanges.
—Thomas Meaney, New Yorker, 2 July 2025
Janvier Barhahiga, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2025
Rhino horn can fetch more than $60,000 per kilogram on the black market, a commodity more valuable than gold, platinum or diamonds, according to the United Kingdom's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
—Dakota Bennett, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black-market
Noun
Cracking down on pain prescriptions has driven those suffering unbearable pain to dangerous black-market drugs.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 6 July 2025
At the ghetto wall, German soldiers shoot at Jewish children who had tunnelled beneath to find black-market exchanges.
—Thomas Meaney, New Yorker, 2 July 2025
Verb
The older bills exchange for new ones at a rate of about 10-to-1, said Ruboneka Mirindi Innocent, one of several local residents who now work on the black market as money-changers.
—Janvier Barhahiga, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2025
Rhino horn can fetch more than $60,000 per kilogram on the black market, a commodity more valuable than gold, platinum or diamonds, according to the United Kingdom's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
—Dakota Bennett, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black-market
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black-market
Noun
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Kawakami posed a trade package that could pique the Bengals interest with several tiers that only sweeten the deal for Cincinnati provided Hendrickson hits certain thresholds.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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Fundamentals Relative to peers, FTNT trades at a modest premium on forward P/E multiples, but its profitability metrics far exceed industry averages, justifying upside potential.—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Unable to land a starting spot on the team, Hanson turned to drugs to get ahead, smuggling in steroids from Tijuana to gain a physical advantage.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
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That ratio is more impressive given that they were smuggled out of Europe in a suitcase at the dawn of the Second World War, and, given Kafka’s Jewish roots, could very easily have been lost forever.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This loophole fueled a $28 billion gray market, which states are now slowly dismantling—though some have already moved to regulate the industry.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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New research is shedding light on the inner workings of the multimillion-dollar gray market for video game cheats.—
Lily Hay Newman,
Wired News,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For weeks leading up to the election, judges barter for their votes with candidates and make deals for which court system, division and courthouse they will be assigned to, and power players jockey for the supervisory placements, or presiding judge positions, by promising a bloc of loyal votes.—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
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Riz Ahmed’s Ash is the relay mastermind who will barter the deal, keep Sarah alive from reprisals and handle the sizable cash payment.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
28 Sep. 2025
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Several companies and businesses have already shown interest in renting out the retail spaces and the office building, though no final contracts have been signed yet.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The fact we’re getting bootlegged and people are grabbing our voices and using ’em, rap needs to be taken as serious as any other genre!—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
11 July 2025
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In 1920s Anaheim, the big local issue was bootlegging and Catholics, who were seen as foreigners in what was supposed to be an Anglo-Saxon Protestant country.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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As violence in schools proliferates in the United States, so too has the marketplace for products designed to protect students.—
Tonya Simpson,
ABC News,
24 Sep. 2025
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The new facility will cater to both current and potential customers in the region, designed to support the growing demand for textiles and apparel in the Indian marketplace.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Regulators caught off-guard News of Tesla’s Bay Area robotaxi plans unsettled regulators at the California State Transportation Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), according to the emails exchanged on July 25, which were seen by Reuters.—
Chris Kirkham,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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Once at the ranch, an argument broke out, threats were exchanged and several people including Madrigal, Murillo and others all fired their guns, according to the plea agreement.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Black-market.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black-market. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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