barter

1 of 2

verb

bar·​ter ˈbär-tər How to pronounce barter (audio)
bartered; bartering; barters
Synonyms of barter

intransitive verb

: to trade by exchanging one commodity for another : to trade goods or services in exchange for other goods or services
farmers bartering for supplies with their crops
bartered with the store's owner

transitive verb

: to trade or exchange by or as if by bartering
bartering work for food
barterer
ˈbär-tər-ər How to pronounce barter (audio)
noun

barter

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act or practice of trading goods or services for other goods or services : the act or practice of carrying on trade by bartering
2
: goods or services that are traded for other goods or services : the thing given in exchange in bartering

Synonyms of barter

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Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of barter in a Sentence

Noun The tribes use a system of barter. The explorers used blankets and other supplies for barter to get food from the native people.
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.
Verb
Keep your fruit bowl covered and balcony doors closed—or risk bartering half a banana for your MacBook. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026 Throughout history, some were commissioned to enhance the interiors with their signature flair while others bartered their artwork for breaks on daily rates and others simply just thrived off the scene. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Noun
Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Siegel began his career as head of media at Grey Advertising, and the publication Advertising Age would designate him one of the 50 pioneers in the first 50 years of television for his expertise in barter syndication. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026 It’s run by Kuramae leather goods brand Hender Scheme, which offers the space to creators under a fee-free barter system. — Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barter

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bartren, from Anglo-French *bareter to do business, exchange, alteration of Old French barater — more at barratry

Noun

Middle English, noun derivative of bartren "to barter entry 1"

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of barter was in the 15th century

Rhymes for barter

See All Rhymes for barter

Browse Nearby Words

bartendress
barter
Barth
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barter. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

barter

1 of 2 verb
bar·​ter ˈbärt-ər How to pronounce barter (audio)
: to trade one thing for another without the use of money
barterer
ˈbärt-ər-ər How to pronounce barter (audio)
noun

barter

2 of 2 noun
: the exchange of goods without the use of money

Legal Definition

barter

1 of 2 intransitive verb
bar·​ter ˈbär-tər How to pronounce barter (audio)
: to trade by exchanging one commodity or service for another

transitive verb

: to trade or exchange by or as if by bartering compare sell

barter

2 of 2 noun
: the art or practice of carrying on trade or exchange by or as if by bartering : exchange of one commodity or service for another compare sale

More from Merriam-Webster on barter

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about barter

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