commodity
noun
com·mod·i·ty
kə-ˈmä-də-tē 
plural commodities
1
: an economic good: such as
a
: a product of agriculture or mining
agricultural commodities like grain and corn
b
: an article of commerce especially when delivered for shipment
reported the damaged commodities to officials
c
: a mass-produced unspecialized product
commodity chemicals
commodity memory chips
2
b
: convenience, advantage
… the many commodities incidental to the life of a public office …—
Charles Lamb
Charles Lamb3
: a good or service whose wide availability typically leads to smaller profit margins and diminishes the importance of factors (such as brand name) other than price
4
: one that is subject to ready exchange or exploitation within a market
… stars as individuals and as commodities of the film industry.—Film Quarterly
Film QuarterlySynonyms
Examples of commodity in a Sentence
agricultural commodities like grain and corn
Oil is a commodity in high demand.
Patience is a rare commodity.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chubb, the market leader in crop insurance, said agriculture premiums fell a bit because of lower commodity prices and a change in the risk formula with the U.S. government.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2025
This authority has led to controversial decisions, including reprieves for the likes of President Richard Nixon, officials implicated in the Iran-Contra affair and disgraced commodities trader Marc Rich.
—David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
Fraenkel began the panel by discussing how commodity trading aligns with climate change goals.
—Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
The company continues to focus on maintaining a competitive cost structure and managing risks associated with global economic conditions, foreign exchange fluctuations, and commodity price volatility.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for commodity 
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.
Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2025
This authority has led to controversial decisions, including reprieves for the likes of President Richard Nixon, officials implicated in the Iran-Contra affair and disgraced commodities trader Marc Rich.
—David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
Fraenkel began the panel by discussing how commodity trading aligns with climate change goals.
—Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
The company continues to focus on maintaining a competitive cost structure and managing risks associated with global economic conditions, foreign exchange fluctuations, and commodity price volatility.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for commodity
Articles Related to commodity
Dictionary Entries Near commodity
Cite this Entry
“Commodity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commodity. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commodity
noun
com·mod·i·ty
kə-ˈmäd-ət-ē
plural commodities
1
: a product of agriculture or mining
2
: an article that is bought and sold in commerce
Legal Definition
commodity
noun
com·mod·i·ty
kə-ˈmä-də-tē
plural commodities
: a class of economic goods
especially
: an item of merchandise (as soybeans) whose price is the basis of futures trading
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share