Words / C1

k-uh-MOD-uh-tee/kəˈmɒdəti/

A commodity is a traded raw product: oil as a commodity, commodity prices. Goods are finished products; a product can be anything sold. In criticism, treating people as a commodity means as things to buy. Commodity can also mean a useful thing in general.

Meaning

A raw product that is bought and sold, such as oil or wheat; also something useful.

Examples

• “Oil is the country’s main export commodity.”
• “Drought pushed agricultural commodity prices up.”
• “Clean water should not be treated as just another commodity.”

Good to know

a commodity / commodity prices. Finished things: goods. Metaphor: people as a commodity.

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