commodity
noun
com·mod·i·ty
kə-ˈmä-də-tē 
plural commodities
1
: an economic good: such as
a
: a product of agriculture or mining
agricultural commodities like grain and corn
b
: an article of commerce especially when delivered for shipment
reported the damaged commodities to officials
c
: a mass-produced unspecialized product
commodity chemicals
commodity memory chips
2
b
: convenience, advantage
… the many commodities incidental to the life of a public office …—
Charles Lamb
Charles Lamb3
: a good or service whose wide availability typically leads to smaller profit margins and diminishes the importance of factors (such as brand name) other than price
4
: one that is subject to ready exchange or exploitation within a market
… stars as individuals and as commodities of the film industry.—Film Quarterly
Film QuarterlyExamples of commodity in a Sentence
agricultural commodities like grain and corn
Oil is a commodity in high demand.
Patience is a rare commodity.
Recent Examples on the Web
According to the World Bank's April 2024 Commodity Markets Outlook, global commodity prices declined by nearly 40% between mid-2022 and mid-2023 and have since remained relatively stable.
—Artem Milinchuk, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
The company identified risks related to commodity price volatility, regulatory changes, and competition in the ethanol industry, which could impact future financial performance.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2025
The tariffs could also raise the prices that suppliers charge for parts and for raw commodities — like steel, aluminum and copper — because domestic producers know that their foreign competitors can no longer sell as cheaply to US customers.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2025
The metal is forecast to jump more than 10 percent over the next year, to $3,350 per ounce, Michael Widmer, a commodity strategist at Bank of America, wrote in a research note on Wednesday.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commodity
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.
Artem Milinchuk, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
The company identified risks related to commodity price volatility, regulatory changes, and competition in the ethanol industry, which could impact future financial performance.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2025
The tariffs could also raise the prices that suppliers charge for parts and for raw commodities — like steel, aluminum and copper — because domestic producers know that their foreign competitors can no longer sell as cheaply to US customers.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2025
The metal is forecast to jump more than 10 percent over the next year, to $3,350 per ounce, Michael Widmer, a commodity strategist at Bank of America, wrote in a research note on Wednesday.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commodity
Cite this Entry
“Commodity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commodity. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commodity
noun
com·mod·i·ty
kə-ˈmäd-ət-ē
plural commodities
1
: a product of agriculture or mining
2
: an article that is bought and sold in commerce
Legal Definition
commodity
noun
com·mod·i·ty
kə-ˈmä-də-tē
plural commodities
: a class of economic goods
especially
: an item of merchandise (as soybeans) whose price is the basis of futures trading
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share