trade-in

American  

[treyd-in] / ˈtreɪdˌɪn /

noun

1. goods given in whole or, usually, part payment of a purchase.

   We used our old car as a trade-in for the new one.

2. a business transaction involving a trade-in.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the valuation of goods used in a trade-in.

   trade-in price.

2. of or relating to such a business transaction.

   trade-in terms.

trade-in British  

noun

1. 1. a used article given in part payment for the purchase of a new article

   2. a transaction involving such part payment

   3. the valuation put on the article traded in

   4. ( as modifier )

      a trade-in dealer

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verb

1. (tr, adverb) to give (a used article) as part payment for the purchase of a new article

trade in Idioms  

1. Give or sell an old or used item and apply the value or proceeds to a new item. For example, Some people prefer to trade in their old car to the dealer, but we feel we'll do better by simply selling it. [First half of 1900s]

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Etymology

Origin of trade-in

First recorded in 1920–25; noun, adj. use of verb phrase trade in

Example Sentences

Retail sales depend to a large degree on trade-in subsidies for items ranging from white goods to mobile phones.

From The Wall Street Journal

China’s auto market is cooling down further with the first quarter likely to be a “freezing winter” period, especially for the mass-market models segment, as both trade-in and scrapping policies have become percentage-based, they say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Beijing late last month renewed the car trade-in program for 2026 as part of a broader effort to boost consumption.

From The Wall Street Journal

Chinese automakers could face more pressure in 2026 as China has scaled back trade-in subsidies for mid-to-lower-priced vehicles in the new year to promote technology innovation and improve the auto sector’s product mix, analysts said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Subsidies for appliances, electric vehicles, and home upgrades have expanded in some regions, often tied to trade-in programs or local initiatives.

From Barron's

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