black market

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Romanée-Conti’s high demand and hefty price has also motivated thieves and counterfeiters, helping to foster a black market for rare spirits, where shady dealers and covetous buyers are willing to ignore a bottle’s provenance.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

The caregiver for her elderly mother and a grandchild, she spends much of her time scouring government stores and the black market for food and medicine.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

Last year, BBC Sport conducted an investigation exposing an enormous black market for tickets in the Premier League.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

To get a Starlink antenna on the black market, Iranians previously had to shell out around "$800 or $1,000" at the end of 2025, Ahmadian recalled, a prohibitive amount for many.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

Because regulation of a legal market is bound to fail when a healthy black market exists for the same product.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt