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

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

Challenging other nations to emulate the U.S. by guaranteeing some portion of their sovereign debt in gold would demonstrate America’s vision for stable money as the proper foundation for fair trade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 26, 2025

Earlier in the day, the Ontario premier shared the full 1987 radio address on free and fair trade by Reagan, saying that the former president knew Canada and the US "were stronger together".

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2025

As one member of the latter told the New York Times, farmers don’t want handouts but, rather, “access to a free and fair trade market.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2025

I stared at the book, knowing it wasn’t a fair trade.

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye