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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

“President Trump seeks a stable peace, fair trade, and respectful relations with China,” an unclassified version of the document declares.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 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

She adds that these provide a market for customers who value indigenous arts, sustainability and fair trade, and are willing to pay more.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2025

It seemed like a fair trade, the more I thought about it.

From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon

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

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

She is also the coordinator for two organisations set up to help small-scale producers see their organic, fair-trade goods transported via wind-powered sailing vessels - Sail Cargo London and Kent Sail Cargo.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

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 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