supply and demand

noun

: the amount of goods and services that are available for people to buy compared to the amount of goods and services that people want to buy
If less of a product than the public wants is produced, the law of supply and demand says that more can be charged for the product.

Examples of supply and demand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Kim Jaejune, an executive of Samsung’s memory chip division, said the company expects the gap between chip supply and demand to widen further in 2027. ABC News, 29 July 2026 The predictions of catastrophe for the world’s oil system were based on simple supply and demand. Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026 The rate fluctuated in real time based on supply and demand, and the term was always open. Alexander S. Blume, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Remember, relievers are valuable, and with so many teams in the playoff race, supply and demand could influence clubs. Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for supply and demand

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Supply and demand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supply%20and%20demand. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster