black market: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “black market” mean?
An illegal trade in goods or services, operating outside official channels and government control.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An illegal trade in goods or services, operating outside official channels and government control.
Refers to any economic activity conducted in violation of government regulations, often involving rationed, prohibited, or heavily taxed goods, or evading price controls.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences. Usage and concept are identical.
Connotations
Identical strong connotations of illegality and evasion. Associated with wartime rationing, prohibition, or oppressive regimes in both cultures.
Frequency
Frequency is similar. Possibly slightly more frequent in US media discourse on drugs and gun control.
Grammar
How to Use “black market” in a Sentence
There is a black market in NOUN.NOUN is sold/traded on the black market.The black market for NOUN is thriving.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “black market” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The scarce medicines were being black-marketed at ten times the normal price.
- He was arrested for attempting to black-market endangered species.
American English
- The tickets were black-marketed outside the stadium.
- They black-market cigarettes to avoid state taxes.
adverb
British English
- Goods were obtained black-market during the post-war austerity period. (Less common; 'on the black market' is preferred)
American English
- These guns are sold black-market, with no background checks. (Rare/Informal)
adjective
British English
- They paid a black-market price for the fuel during the crisis.
- He was a known black-market operator.
American English
- She bought a black-market iPhone before its official release.
- The investigation uncovered a black-market network.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in economics as part of the informal sector or in risk analysis for regulated industries.
Academic
Analysed in economics, political science, and sociology papers on crime, regulation, and state failure.
Everyday
Used when discussing expensive or scarce goods, like concert tickets or electronics during shortages.
Technical
Specific legal or economic term for markets violating price controls, sanctions, or prohibitions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “black market”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “black market”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black market”
- Using as a verb without 'operate' or 'sell on' (Incorrect: 'He black markets tickets.' Correct: 'He sells tickets on the black market.').
- Confusing 'black market' with 'grey market' (legal but unofficial/parallel imports).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A black market is illegal (e.g., drugs, stolen goods). A grey market involves the legal trade of genuine goods through unofficial, unauthorized channels (e.g., importing electronics without the manufacturer's consent).
Yes, but it's less common and slightly informal (e.g., 'to black-market goods'). The more standard phrasing is 'to sell goods on the black market'.
A 'white market' refers to the legal, official trade in goods and services. This term is less common but used in analytical contrast.
Not always. Prices can be high due to scarcity and risk, but they can also be lower if the goods evade taxes (e.g., black-market cigarettes). The defining feature is illegality, not price.
An illegal trade in goods or services, operating outside official channels and government control.
Black market is usually neutral to formal in register.
Black market: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈmɑː.kɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈmɑːr.kɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the black (informal, derived)”
- “Under the counter (related concept for illicit sales)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a market operating 'in the black' of night, hidden from the law, unlike an official 'white market' in the open.
Conceptual Metaphor
ILLEGAL IS DARK / HIDDEN (black market, shadow economy vs. open, white market).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic of a 'black market'?