Jump to:

• black market
  black market

  noun

  the illicit buying and selling of goods in violation of legal price controls, rationing, etc.
• black-market
  black-market

  verb (used without object)

  to black-marketeer.

black market

¹ American  

noun

1. the illicit buying and selling of goods in violation of legal price controls, rationing, etc.

2. a place where such activity is carried on.

---

black-market ² American  

[blak-mahr-kit] / ˈblækˈmɑr kɪt /

verb (used without object)

1. to black-marketeer.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to sell (something) in the black market.

black market British  

noun

1. 1. any system in which goods or currencies are sold and bought illegally, esp in violation of controls or rationing

   2. ( as modifier )

      black market lamb

2. the place where such a system operates

---

verb

1. to sell (goods) on the black market

black market Cultural  

1. The illegal buying and selling of goods above the price fixed by a government. Black markets usually develop when, because of war, disaster, or public policy, a government tries to set prices for commodities instead of allowing the normal operations of supply and demand to set prices.

---

Other Word Forms

• black marketeer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of black market¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Origin of black-market²

First recorded in 1930–35; v. use of black market

Example Sentences

Black market puppy farming also seriously impacts thousands of properly licensed breeders in Scotland, who are selling lawfully.

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2022

Livergood, who used to work at Coeur d’Alene High School and Woodland Middle School, sent him a 2002 article by The Spokesman-Review titled, “She was a steal: Black market babies keep Gertie’s legacy alive.”

From Washington Times • Dec. 27, 2014

Black market fishing constitutes up to 20 percent of the wild marine fish caught each year around the world.

From New York Times • Jun. 17, 2014

Black market rates are even weaker, a sign that although the central bank managed to stem the slide in official trade last week, Egyptians are nervous about holding on to pounds.

From Reuters • Feb. 10, 2013

Black market vendors left their normal posts in front of theaters and cinemas, and stationed themselves in front of the Dom Sindikata to peddle entrance tickets to the match, which were in great demand.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady