barter

American  

[bahr-ter] / ˈbɑr tər /

verb (used without object)

1. to trade by exchange of commodities rather than by the use of money.

   Synonyms:

   traffic

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verb (used with object)

1. to exchange in trade, as one commodity for another; trade.

   Synonyms:

   traffic

2. to bargain away unwisely or dishonorably (usually followed byaway ).

   bartering away his pride for material gain.

noun

1. the act or practice of bartering.

2. items or an item for bartering.

   We arrived with new barter for the villagers.

barter British  

/ ˈbɑːtə /

verb

1. to trade (goods, services, etc) in exchange for other goods, services, etc, rather than for money

   the refugees bartered for food

2. (intr) to haggle over the terms of such an exchange; bargain

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noun

1. trade by the exchange of goods

barter Cultural  

1. The exchange of goods or services for other goods or services, rather than for money.

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Related Words

See trade.

Other Word Forms

• barterer noun
• outbarter verb (used with object)
• unbartered adjective
• unbartering adjective

Etymology

Origin of barter

1400–50; late Middle English, apparently < Anglo-French, Old French bareter, barater ( barrator ), with shift of sense

Example Sentences

“Honey, this is the United States Postal Service. We don’t barter.”

From Literature

The victim had left a trading card show in Orange County that day and visited the Olympic Boulevard shop looking to barter, he told The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

Try to get a car at an auto rental agency without booking it online first; you might as well attempt to barter your watch and three chickens as payment.

From Los Angeles Times

But I could almost always get what I wanted in a barter.

From Literature

In September, the LA Card Show made its Dodger Stadium debut, drawing thousands of fans swapping and bartering trading cards.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• haggle