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
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
According to court records, Gentek sold more than $42 million of black-market HIV drugs to the Boyds.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026
Owner’s past Whatever the reason for not following up on the tip, the failure to travel to Esparto to inspect Devastating Pyrotechnics operations allowed an extensive black market operation to continue without scrutiny.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black-market
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Verb
That search warrant resulted from the Shelby Township Police Department's Special Investigations Unit following up on information about a multi-state, black-market smuggling operating out of a local home, the police report said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
According to court records, Gentek sold more than $42 million of black-market HIV drugs to the Boyds.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
What the guy isn’t expecting is the black market Nordstrom that Corvette has set up in this studio flat.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026
Owner’s past Whatever the reason for not following up on the tip, the failure to travel to Esparto to inspect Devastating Pyrotechnics operations allowed an extensive black market operation to continue without scrutiny.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 9 Mar. 2026
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 18 Mar. 2026.
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