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

Google Pixel 8 128GB - $200 off, down to $499 Google Pixel 8a 5G 128GB - $100 off, down to $399 Google Pixel 8 Pro 128GB - $350 off, down to $649 Google Pixel 9: Surprisingly generous trade in prices Interestingly, Best Buy is also running a surprisingly generous trade-in promotion. —Janhoi McGregor, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024

Beyond a trade-in program to incentivize car and home appliance sales, Beijing’s stimulus measures that have been announced so far have not targeted consumption directly. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2024

Verb

As 2025 approaches, investors may ask themselves: If the health-care sector is growing faster than the economy, why have these stocks underperformed, and does this represent an opportunity to play the group as a possible catch-up trade in the new year? —Michael Khouw, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024

Shipwreck discoveries in the waters off of Italy and Greece are not uncommon due to the long history of trade in the region. —Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1915, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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