export

American  

[ik-spawrt, -spohrt, ek-spawrt, -spohrt, ek-spawrt, -spohrt] / ɪkˈspɔrt, -ˈspoʊrt, ˈɛk spɔrt, -spoʊrt, ˈɛk spɔrt, -spoʊrt /

verb (used with object)

1. to ship (commodities) to other countries or places for sale, exchange, etc.

2. to send or transmit (ideas, institutions, etc.) to another place, especially to another country.

3. Computers. to save (documents, data, etc.) in a format usable by another software program.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to ship commodities to another country for sale, exchange, etc.

noun

1. the act of exporting; exportation.

   the export of coffee.

2. something that is exported; an article exported.

   Coffee is a major export of Colombia.

adjective

1. of or relating to the exportation of goods or to exportable goods.

   export duties.

2. produced for export.

   an export beer.

export British  

noun

1. (often plural)

   1. goods ( visible exports ) or services ( invisible exports ) sold to a foreign country or countries

   2. ( as modifier )

      an export licence

      export finance

---

verb

1. to sell (goods or services) or ship (goods) to a foreign country or countries

2. (tr) to transmit or spread (an idea, social institution, etc) abroad

Other Word Forms

• exportability
  noun
• exportable
  adjective
• exporter
  noun
• nonexportable
  adjective
• superexport
  verb (used with object)
• superexport
  noun
• unexportable
  adjective
• unexported
  adjective
• unexporting
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of export

First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin exportāre “to carry out, carry away,” from ex- ex- ¹ + portāre “to carry”

Explanation

To export something is to move it from its current location to a different territory. Some have been trying to export the American diet overseas by spreading McDonald's fries around the globe. The verb export comes from the Latin word exportare which means “to carry out” or “send away.” To export something is to move it across borders. You could export locally made fabric to wealthy European cities. When something is an export, it is a good, service or idea that is sent or sold to a foreign land: diamonds are a valuable African export.

Example Sentences

Export Development Canada in its spring outlook argues gold will peak in 2026, then as uncertainty eases and high prices curb demand it will gradually decline in 2027 to average $4,689 an ounce.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Export revenues from oil and, in Qatar’s case, natural gas have transformed the Gulf states into regional powers with global reach over the past three decades, and that is now at risk.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

"Export markets demand zero tolerance on pests. Even if inspectors find a single fruit fly, the entire consignment is discarded, leading to huge losses," he says.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

Export controls on advanced lithography equipment have prevented Chinese manufacturers from fitting more transistors on their chips, resulting in more energy-intensive systems, according to Jack Gold, founder and principal analyst at J.Gold Associates.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 24, 2026

Export of cocoa, 1883 valued at $3,372,200; India rubber, $428,800.

From Alden's Handy Atlas of the World by Alden, John B.

Related Words

• dump
• ship
• smuggle
• transport