commodity

American  

[kuh-mod-i-tee] / kəˈmɒd ɪ ti /

noun

plural

commodities

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

• noncommodity adjective

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

A batch of Asian PMIs due Monday will show how manufacturers in Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia are coping with fluctuating commodity prices amid the Middle East conflict.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

“The near closure of the Strait continues to prolong a disruption that is steadily tightening global energy markets,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

There were busts as well as booms - oil has always been a volatile commodity - but on the whole Aberdeen prospered, with the Granite City acquiring a new nickname: Europe's oil capital.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Ford seems to be expecting commodity costs to be an even greater headwind in 2026, he said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

And some­thing else, something I hadn’t noticed right away: Hardly any of them sat with an adult male—the wars had made fathers a rare commodity in Afghanistan.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

Related Words

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