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

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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

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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

Higher commodity prices and demand from AI and renewable-energy industries also supported profits in the raw material sector.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

The ship is a “missing piece” in the story of networks, trade and commodity exchange in the wider eastern Mediterranean.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2026

The company’s sales growth helped buffer its financial results against rising commodity costs driven by elevated oil prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

There’s no question that we live in a uniquely difficult age, where reprieve is a hot commodity.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026

Solitude was a rare commodity on Everest, and I was grateful to be granted a bit of it on this day, in such a remarkable setting.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

He was later to start producing those commodities, building mega factories and expanding operations into at least 14 African countries.

From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026

Taiwan’s exceptional GDP performance in recent quarters reflects the rising relative value of chips compared with other commodities, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

Those commodities have seen some dramatic price changes even before the effects of El Niño have really taken shape.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

“In April, the problem was a shortage of crude. In October, it is the cost of moving it,” said Natasha Kaneva, head of the global commodities strategy team at JPMorgan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

The Dutch East India Company, a joint governmental and private enterprise, sent ships to the far corners of the world to acquire rare commodities and resell them at a profit in Europe.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

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Related Words

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

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