black-market

¹ American  

[blak-mahr-kit] / ˈblækˈmɑr kɪt /

verb (used without object)

1. to black-marketeer.

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verb (used with object)

1. to sell (something) in the black market.

black market ² American  

noun

1. the illicit buying and selling of goods in violation of legal price controls, rationing, etc.

2. a place where such activity is carried on.

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black market British  

noun

1. 1. any system in which goods or currencies are sold and bought illegally, esp in violation of controls or rationing

   2. ( as modifier )

      black market lamb

2. the place where such a system operates

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verb

1. to sell (goods) on the black market

black market Cultural  

1. The illegal buying and selling of goods above the price fixed by a government. Black markets usually develop when, because of war, disaster, or public policy, a government tries to set prices for commodities instead of allowing the normal operations of supply and demand to set prices.

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Other Word Forms

• black marketeer noun

Etymology

Origin of black-market¹

First recorded in 1930–35; v. use of black market

Origin of black market¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

There is a black market and to be safe people should avoid buying from unregulated sellers such as beauty salons or via social media.

From BBC

Russia took over oil-trading operations to move Venezuelan crude on the black market.

From The Wall Street Journal

On the second day of his presidency, he pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the boss of a notorious online black market in which transactions were conducted in crypto.

From Los Angeles Times

Tor/the Dark Web has received a lot of attention for hosting black markets and facilitating criminal activities, but it’s also used by journalists, activists and regular folks for legitimate purposes.

From Salon

In September, a BBC investigation exposed a black market selling thousands of Premier League tickets at two to four times the face value.

From BBC