trade-in

1 of 2

noun

: an item of merchandise (such as an automobile or refrigerator) taken as payment or part payment for a purchase

trade in

2 of 2

verb

traded in; trading in; trades in

transitive verb

1
: to turn in as payment or part payment for a purchase or bill
trade the old car in on a new one
2

Examples of trade-in 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.
Noun
While Beijing has rolled out trade-in subsidies to spur sales of cars and appliances, the rebound in spending has been uneven. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026 Funny enough, the brand proudly says that the former three are top trade-ins among new Grenadier buyers. Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
The countries are also expected to significantly increase trade in technology products, including advanced chips for data centers. Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026 Alex Laferriere, forward, B- Laferriere has logged valuable minutes at center in light of not only Kopitar’s injuries but the departure of Phillip Danault via trade in December. Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trade-in

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1915, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trade-in was in 1891

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trade-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade-in. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

trade-in

1 of 2 noun
ˈtrād-ˌin
: something given in trade usually as part payment for a purchase

trade in

2 of 2 verb
(ˈ)trād-ˈin
: to turn in as a payment or part payment for a purchase

More from Merriam-Webster on trade-in

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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