black market
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black market
Where it comes from
Ca. 1930, probably a calque of German Schwarzmarkt, which is attested from the 1910s. Compare Schwärzer (“smuggler”, 18th c.).
noun black markets · black-market
- Trade that is in violation of restrictions, rationing, or price controls. Peace and order will not be tolerated. Start saving your cash for the black market, folks, you're gonna need it.
- The people who engage in such trade, or that sector of the economy. associational black market
verb black markets · black marketing · black marketed · black-market
- To sell (goods) on the black market. ‘He sits on his backside ashore, making a fortune by black marketing the fish these men catch.’
- To take part in black-market trading.
Translations
Every language
noun trade that is in violation of restrictions, rationing or price controls
| Español | mercado negro |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 암시장 amsijang, 블랙마켓 beullaengmaket |
| 日本語 | 闇市 yamiichi, 闇市場 yamiichiba, ブラック・マーケット burakku-māketto |
| 中文 | 黑市 hēishì |
| हिन्दी | काला बाज़ार kālā bāzār, चोर बाज़ार cor bāzār |
| Português | mercado negro |
| Français | marché noir, économie souterraine |
| Deutsch | Schwarzmarkt |
| Italiano | mercato nero, mercato negro |
| Ελληνικά | μαύρη αγορά mávri agorá |
| Română | piață neagră |
| Русский | чёрный ры́нок čórnyj rýnok |
| Tiếng Việt | chợ đen |
| العربية | سُوق سَوْدَاء sūq sawdāʔ |
| עברית | שוק שחור, שׁוּק שָׁחֹר shúk shakhór |
noun people who engage in such trade or that sector of the economy
| Português | mercado negro |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Schwarzmarkt |
| Русский | чёрный ры́нок čórnyj rýnok |
Talk about this word "black market." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/black%20market. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. black market. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/black%20market "black market." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/black%20market.Cite this
@misc{black_market_2026,
title = {black market},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/black%20market},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
