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

Crude oil is by far Canada's most profitable commodity, accounting for C$142bn in export value in 2025 alone.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

While there are several compelling reasons to own the metal, the commodity needs to be handled with some caution.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Stevens, many analysts noted, was a known commodity to many Black voters as a congresswoman.

From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026

It’s worth noting that with the boom in commodity prices in 2026 Brazil is posting massive trade surpluses every month.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026

There, water is the best gift you can give—a precious commodity.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Prosecutors said Rush was moving funds into commodities that could be easily traded, citing "strong evidence" he was trying to hide the money.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

The analysts’ preferred commodities remain uranium, copper and platinum group metals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

The deal, which was criticised by rights groups who said it was treating humans as commodities, initially targeted 2,600 exchanges.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

The refinery also forms part of a broader government campaign to process more commodities domestically rather than exporting them in raw form.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

Seeking out common ancestors for similar types of instruments is in many cases complicated by the abundant exchange of commodities via trading routes that ran between Europe, North Africa and Asia.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

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