black-mar·ket
ˈblak-ˈmär-kət 
black-marketed; black-marketing; black-markets
: to buy or sell goods in the black market
: to sell in the black market
: illicit trade in goods or commodities in violation of official regulations
also
: a place where such trade is carried on
Examples of black-market in a Sentence
Noun
The black market in prescription drugs is thriving.
They unloaded the stolen goods on the black market.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025
This modern horror film stars Demi Moore as Elizabeth Sparkle, an aging celebrity who takes a black-market drug that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself but has some nasty side effects.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 24 Feb. 2025
Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 27 Feb. 2025
Ulbricht, 40, was about 10 years into his life sentence for helming an online black market where drug dealers, money launderers, and traffickers used bitcoins to mask more than $214 million in illicit trades.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black-market
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Verb
Ted’s packages containing those goods purchased from a black-market vendor lead Michelle and Cosmo to New Mexico.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025
This modern horror film stars Demi Moore as Elizabeth Sparkle, an aging celebrity who takes a black-market drug that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself but has some nasty side effects.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
The drugs were then supposed to be delivered to someone who would sell them on the black market as part of a criminal gang that targeted Walgreens stores across the western part of the country.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 27 Feb. 2025
Ulbricht, 40, was about 10 years into his life sentence for helming an online black market where drug dealers, money launderers, and traffickers used bitcoins to mask more than $214 million in illicit trades.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black-market
Cite this Entry
“Black-market.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-market. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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