commodity

American  

[kuh-mod-i-tee] / kəˈmɒd ɪ ti /

noun

• commodities
  plural

1. an article of trade or commerce, especially a product as distinguished from a service.

2. something of use, advantage, or value.

3. Stock Exchange. any unprocessed or partially processed good, as grain, fruits, and vegetables, or precious metals.

4. Obsolete. a quantity of goods.

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commodity British  

/ kəˈmɒdɪtɪ /

noun

1. an article of commerce

2. something of use, advantage, or profit

3. economics an exchangeable unit of economic wealth, esp a primary product or raw material

4. obsolete

   1. a quantity of goods

   2. convenience or expediency

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commodity Cultural  

1. Any product manufactured or grown.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncommodity
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• commodities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of commodity

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English commodite, from Anglo-French, from Latin commoditās “timeliness, convenience,” equivalent to commod(us) ( see commode) + -itās -ity

Explanation

A commodity is any useful or valuable thing, especially something that is bought and sold. Grain, coffee, and precious metals are all commodities. The word commodity is usually used in an economic context, as in importing commodities from other countries or trading in the stocks and commodities markets. You probably wouldn't say something like "I'm going to run to the corner store to pick up some commodities." This word can also be used figuratively to refer to anything valuable, like trust or patience. Some people think that honesty is a rare commodity in politics.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

commodity commodities

While Apple customizes many components inside iPhones, Khan said, “there isn’t a lot of customization” for memory, alluding to the possibility that commodity Chinese memory chips could be used.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

They're all dealing with a notoriously unpredictable market and with fluctuating commodity and energy prices.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

RBC commodity strategist Chris Looney has discussed how the recent stabilization in gold flows could be “a function of post-consolidation dip-buying and the market pricing in Iran-related uncertainty.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

Chicken is running the same playbook that has made prepared foods so resilient, growing through mix, brand investment, customer partnership and consumer-centric discipline, not by chasing commodity price.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

We knew that food was a precious commodity.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Lower gas prices largely explained the tame readings on wholesale prices in the past two months, but the cost of other key commodities have also slackened.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

Still, the energy index overall was 1.5 percent lower than a month ago, indicating a downward trajectory for prices of those commodities as talks to end the war continue.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

For Wellington, July was the best month since April 2022, when Citadel’s commodities traders were well-positioned for the volatility that followed Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Now imagine you’re a stock or commodities trader who relies on high-speed deals to make a living.

From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026

One of the main commodities returned on those voyages of centuries ago were travelers’ tales,* stories of alien lands and ex otic creatures that evoked our sense of wonder and stimulated future exploration.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Related Words

• asset
• goods
• material
• produce
• product
• property
• stock