black-mar·ket
ˈblak-ˈmär-kət 
black-marketed; black-marketing; black-markets
: to buy or sell goods in the black market
: to sell in the black market
: 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
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
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
See all Example Sentences for black-market 
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.
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
See all Example Sentences for black-market
Dictionary Entries Near black-market
Cite this Entry
“Black-market.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-market. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share