supply and demand

noun

: the amount of goods and services that are available for people to buy compared to the amount of goods and services that people want to buy
If less of a product than the public wants is produced, the law of supply and demand says that more can be charged for the product.

Examples of supply and demand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But again, supply and demand would intervene. Daniel Yergin, Time, 20 June 2026 One of the biggest hurdles to homeownership has been an imbalance between supply and demand in many parts of the country. ABC News, 24 June 2026 Utility-scale projects help balance supply and demand in regional power markets. Tom Bitting, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Additionally, supply and demand, geopolitical events, inflation, job growth and unemployment all play a role in where the rate goes. Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for supply and demand

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Supply and demand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supply%20and%20demand. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster