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

Sales and earnings are up on higher commodity prices amid a broader commodity boom.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

By commodity trade, Hayes is mainly referring to the memory stocks that have been labeled the picks-and-shovels play of the AI infrastructure boom.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026

Human connection is a necessity but, in a society grappling with loneliness across generations, it has now also become a commodity.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Last week, London-based HANetf, an exchange-traded fund provider, launched the world’s first euro-hedged bitcoin exchange-traded commodity, or ETC—noting a shift in demand among its European client base.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Some of the other teams on the mountain that year, failing to understand that Everest was no longer merely a mountain but a commodity as well, were incensed.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Rising energy and fertiliser costs are hitting smallholder farmers and driving up prices of agricultural commodities, fueling fears of a global food crisis, the head of the UN agriculture development fund told AFP.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

For that reason, he said now is an opportune moment to invest in gold and silver, pointing to monetary easing triggering a bull market for commodities.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Goldman saw muted activity in some parts of its markets business, such as fixed income, currency and commodities, where revenues were "essentially unchanged," the firm said in a press release.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

David Ruisard, pricing manager for commodities intelligence firm Argus says the ongoing Russian war with Ukraine has also impacted oil supplies, contributing to higher fuel prices.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Madame Olga charged $50 per prophecy, claiming that she could prophesy fluctuations in the commodities market. rack/wrack.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

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Related Words

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

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