noun

commodity

kuh-MO-duh-tee

noun

A raw material or basic good that is bought and sold in bulk, such as oil, wheat, or gold.

"Coffee is one of the most heavily traded commodities in the world."

"Prices for the commodity spiked after the harvest failed."

Something useful or valuable, especially something treated as an interchangeable product rather than something unique.

"In the tech industry, cloud storage has become a commodity."

How to Use Commodity

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA basic good, especially a raw material, traded in large quantities — think grain, metal, or fuel.

Common pairings

commodity prices raw commodity commodity market trade in commodities

commodities plural

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Prices for the _____ spiked after the harvest failed.

From Latin commoditas, "convenience, fitness," from commodus ("suitable"), the same root as commode and accommodate.

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