gray market

noun

: a market employing irregular but not illegal methods
especially : a market that legally circumvents authorized channels of distribution to sell goods at prices lower than those intended by the manufacturer

Examples of gray market in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That said, even though the American magazine tested the car, U.S. buyers would never be able to buy a 288 GTO direct from Ferrari; all imports were handled through the gray market. Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2024 Of course, some gray markets use bitcoin in the West, too, where industries may be legal, but the banks frown on them, like marijuana sales in some states and countries and things like that. Steven Ehrlich, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 Sans introduced the elephant in the room — the gray market — which has fueled revenues for independent retailers for the past 10 years. Martino Carrera, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019 Keep in mind that these data exclude hundreds of thousands of unlicensed, gray market personal care aides. Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gray market 

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gray market was in 1934

Dictionary Entries Near gray market

Cite this Entry

“Gray market.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gray%20market. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Legal Definition

gray market

noun
: a market employing irregular but not illegal methods
especially : a market that legally circumvents authorized channels of distribution to sell goods at prices lower than those intended by the manufacturer

More from Merriam-Webster on gray market

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!