Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

black market

 - definition
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
noun [singular] economics British English pronunciation: black market 
Word Forms
Close
singularblack market
pluralblack markets
  1. the illegal buying and selling of goods, especially when it is difficult or expensive to obtain them legally

    There's a thriving black market in vodka and cigarettes.

    on the black market:

    Rhino horns can fetch up to £4,000 on the black market.

derived word

black marketeer

 British English pronunciation: black marketeer  noun [countable]
Word Forms
Close
singularblack marketeer
pluralblack marketeers

caxirola

a percussion instrument used by football fans which makes a rattling sound when shaken

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day

emancipation

the process of giving freedom and rights to someone

Open Dictionary

pierce the corporate veil

… the decision to treat the rights and duties of a company as being the same as the rights and duties of its shareholders

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog