white market

American  

noun

1. (in a system of rationing) the buying and selling of unused ration coupons at a fluctuating legal price based on the supply of and demand for the rationed commodity.

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Other Word Forms

• white-market
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of white market

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

“We basically subsidize our white market with our black market,” said the cultivator, who agreed to speak with The Associated Press only on condition of anonymity to avoid possible prosecution.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 16, 2022

"The black markets supply a lot of pharmaceutical products before they are out on the white market," he said.

From Reuters • Mar. 29, 2013

Any rationing plan adopted today would probably be a "white market" systern; coupons would be transferable, and people who did not need all their coupons could legally sell them to those who did.

From Time Magazine Archive

A rhythm-and-blues tune by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters called Work with Me, Annie, for example, made the charts in a much diluted version designed expressly for the white market.

From Time Magazine Archive

No longer was there a white market for their savage wares; but there was still a sufficient incentive for the taking of Numa--alive.

From Jungle Tales of Tarzan by Burroughs, Edgar Rice