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

"Seydou's size and stature coupled with his athleticism - the way he ran, the way he caught the ball – it made him a rare commodity," says Jones.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

Rio Tinto raised its interim dividend after reporting a 47% jump in first-half profit, fueled by higher commodity prices, increased production, and productivity gains.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

“The input cost inflation outlook is reassuring given the surge in commodity prices,” the analysts says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Ukraine is a major commodity exporter, with 90 percent passing through Black Sea ports in and around Odesa.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

There was always bread and commodity cheese you could get from the government.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

This may allow him to appear spontaneous and authentic - both valuable commodities on social media - but it comes with risks.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

In theory, a strong dollar would make foreign imports cheaper for American consumers, and often has a cooling effect on commodities, which are priced in dollars.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

The commodities giant expects its traders to post a consensus-beating $3.3 billion in adjusted EBIT.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

“You have to play the game that’s on the field,” Peters said, adding that he is still overweight traditional value sectors including energy, healthcare and other real assets such as commodities and materials.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

One of the main commodities returned on those voyages of centuries ago were travelers’ tales,* stories of alien lands and ex otic creatures that evoked our sense of wonder and stimulated future exploration.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Related Words

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