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barter

Transitive VerbIntransitive VerbNoun

past: barteredpp: bartereding: bartering

This term describes a direct exchange of value that bypasses currency. It carries a connotation of necessity, tradition, or informal negotiation, often evoking images of ancient marketplaces or survivalist economies where tangible assets are the only available currency. As a noun, the word refers to the systemic practice of trading. While it can be used as a countable noun in specific instances of a trade, it is most frequently used as an uncountable noun to describe the general economic system of exchange.

Meanings

Transitive Verb

[~ something for something]

To exchange goods or services for other goods or services without using money.

"They bartered their surplus grain for salt and spices."

Intransitive Verb

To trade goods or services instead of using money.

"In the early days of the settlement, the colonists had to barter to survive."

Noun

The act or practice of exchanging goods and services without the use of a medium of exchange such as money.

"The local community returned to a system of barter during the economic crisis."

Last Updated: June 13, 2026•Report an Error