law of supply and demand

British

noun

the theory that prices are determined by the interaction of supply and demand: an increase in supply will lower prices if not accompanied by increased demand, and an increase in demand will raise prices unless accompanied by increased supply

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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law of supply and demand

The law of supply and demand is simple in theory, but less so in practice.

From Barron's ● May 14, 2026

Knowledge of current events, geography, and simple concepts like the law of supply and demand have been crowded out by willed ignorance and motivated reasoning.

From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2026

It’s about the old law of supply and demand.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2024

"If the world supply is lower because Spain is producing less and the demand remains the same, the price goes up - it's the law of supply and demand."

From BBC ● Dec. 5, 2023

“Why, the law of supply and demand regulates the price of houses.”

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023