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• fair trade
  fair trade

  noun

  trade carried on under a fair-trade agreement.
• fair-trade
  fair-trade

  verb (used with object)

  to sell (a commodity) under a fair-trade agreement.

fair trade

¹ American  

noun

1. trade carried on under a fair-trade agreement.

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fair-trade ² American  

[fair-treyd] / ˈfɛərˈtreɪd /

verb (used with object)

fair-traded, fair-trading

1. to sell (a commodity) under a fair-trade agreement.

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verb (used without object)

fair-traded, fair-trading

1. to sell a commodity under a fair-trade agreement.

adjective

1. subject to or resulting from a fair-trade agreement.

   fair-trade items; fair-trade prices.

fair trade British  

noun

1. 1. the practice of directly benefiting producers in the developing world by buying straight from them at a guaranteed price

   2. ( as modifier )

      fair-trade coffee

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Other Word Forms

• fair-trader
  noun

Etymology

Origin of fair trade¹

First recorded in 1715–25

Origin of fair-trade²

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fair trade fair-trade fair-traded fair-trading

Their employers presumably think it’s a fair trade.

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026

While this viral exercise is extreme, Link noted that some workers may consider a small pay cut to work remotely as a fair trade.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 24, 2025

Together the U.S. and Canada can usher in a new century of shared economic prosperity by dropping tariffs, rejecting protectionism and promoting free and fair trade.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025

Instead, she says that the reputable ones, which she calls "solidarity intermediaries" help establish an equitable system for purchasing mochilas, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions through fair trade principles.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2025

“Hardly a fair trade, is it? A head full of coppery curls in return for a living boy? A son?”

From "Son" by Lois Lowry

A recent survey by an anti-monopoly and fair-trade advocacy group, said 44% of Netflix subscribers are considering canceling their subscription.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

In the early 2000s, the company built its identity around niche progressive causes: hemp legalization, fair-trade certification, psychedelic therapy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

A prominent plastics industry trade group defended mass balance and cited its use in other products like paper and fair-trade chocolate.

From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2024

Joining the reishi mushrooms, touted for their ability to combat depression and fatigue, in the squares of organic, fair-trade semisweet chocolate are chamomile, L-Theanine, magnesium and zinc, all ingredients intended to promote healthy sleep patterns.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2023

I just finished a draft essay about my career dream: a fair-trade company that invests in and designs eco-friendly clothes sewn and embroidered by Indian village women.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

In all, about 5% of the brand-name merchandise sold in U.S. retail stores is fair-traded.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Omaha, the Smith Drug chain signed up for the duration of the price war; prices of fair-traded items began to tumble in Memphis and other cities.

From Time Magazine Archive

The ink on the decision was barely dry when a rash of price-cutting began on fair-traded items.

From Time Magazine Archive

The retailer of soaps, creams and makeup has promoted fair-trading practices and products that were not tested on animals.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 11, 2024