black-market

1 of 2

verb

black-mar·​ket ˈblak-ˈmär-kət 

black-marketed; black-marketing; black-markets

intransitive verb

: to buy or sell goods in the black market

transitive verb

: to sell in the black market

black marketer noun

or black marketeer

ˈblak-ˌmär-kə-ˈtir 

black marketeering

ˈblak-ˌmär-kə-ˈtir-iŋ 

noun

black market

2 of 2

noun

: illicit trade in goods or commodities in violation of official regulations

also : a place where such trade is carried on

Examples of black-market in a Sentence

Noun

The black market in prescription drugs is thriving.

They unloaded the stolen goods on the black market.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The film follows Elisabeth, played by Moore, a celebrity who takes a black-market substance to create a younger, better version of herself named Sue, played by Qualley. —Julia Teti, WWD, 10 Dec. 2024

As people lost trust in banks, and in the peso, black-market U.S. dollars became the country’s semi-official currency; over time, Argentineans are thought to have stashed away some two hundred and seventy-seven billion dollars, possibly the largest cache outside the United States. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024

Noun

These government employees and contractors, with privileged access to the vast treasure troves of personal information, are selling this data on the black market. —Lars Daniel, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024

The primary interest is cash as well as items that can be resold on the black market, like jewelry, watches and handbags. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1727, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1931, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

black market

noun

: trade that is against government controls (as of prices or rationing)

also : the place where such trade is carried on

black marketer

-ˈmär-kət-ər

noun

or black marketeer

-ˌmär-kə-ˈti(ə)r