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 Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
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
Kayti Burt, Time, 4 Apr. 2025
On the black market, a single golden lancehead can fetch anywhere between $10,000 to $30,000.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black-market
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Now, Keats hawks black-market goods with his mecha-sidekick Herman (voiced by Anthony Mackie), who suffers from Insufferable Wisecracking Comic Relief Syndrome.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
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
Noun
The black market surgeon is revealed to be Jeong-min, Ju-yeon’s boyfriend.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 4 Apr. 2025
On the black market, a single golden lancehead can fetch anywhere between $10,000 to $30,000.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 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 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share