black market

¹

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.

black-market

²

[ blak-mahr-kit ]

verb (used without object)

1. to black-marketeer.

verb (used with object)

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

black market

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

verb

1. to sell (goods) on the black market

black market

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.

Derived Forms

• black marketeer, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of black market¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Origin of black market²

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

Example Sentences

But many mines have closed down in recent years and miners have been laid off, contributing to a black market that costs the South African government hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

From BBC

"A black market has sprung up for infant milk, and it is one of the most commonly shoplifted items," he said.

From BBC

Jewels from the original, which was set with 650 diamonds and weighed around 2,800 carats, were sold piecemeal on the black market.

From BBC

To survive, the miners and undocumented migrants go beneath the surface to escape poverty and dig up gold to sell it on the black market.

From BBC

This is why people in the industry believe stolen cheese is often sent overseas to countries where there are thriving food black markets – and indeed cheese black markets.

From BBC