Commodity Meaning
Commodity Definition & Usage
A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as gold, oil, or grain.
Examples
- "The price of wheat as a commodity has increased due to poor harvests."
- "Oil is one of the most traded commodities in global markets."
- "Commodity prices fluctuate based on supply and demand dynamics."
- "Farmers often deal with the uncertainty of commodity prices affecting their income."
- "Many developing countries rely heavily on the export of raw commodities like copper and cotton."
A product or service that is indistinguishable from others in the market, typically with little differentiation or added value.
Examples
- "In a competitive market, your product needs to stand out to avoid becoming a mere commodity."
- "Smartphones have become a commodity in today's tech market, with most brands offering similar features."
- "Luxury brands are not commodities because they offer unique value that differentiates them from others."
- "Retailers are increasingly offering commodities like groceries at lower prices to attract customers."
- "The service provided by the hotel chain has become more of a commodity, lacking distinct features."
Cultural Context
The term 'commodity' originates from the Latin word 'commoditas,' which means 'convenience' or 'advantage.' Historically, commodities have been integral to trade, especially during early economies where raw materials were exchanged for goods and services.
The Price of Progress
Story
The Price of Progress
In a small rural town, the fate of many families hinged on the success of the wheat harvest. Farmers like Joe had always known that their livelihood depended on the whims of nature. This year, however, things were different. A severe drought had hit the region, and the wheat crop was barely enough to fill their silos. Joe knew that the price of wheat, a commodity, was about to rise dramatically due to the shortage in supply. On the one hand, this meant he could sell what little he had left at a higher price, potentially making a profit that could keep his farm afloat for another year. On the other hand, his neighbors were not as fortunate. With so many crops failing, the local marketplace had become a hub of negotiation, where every sack of wheat was worth its weight in gold. In the city, Emma worked in a marketing firm. She had just completed a campaign for a new line of smartphones, a product that, for all its high-tech features, was essentially a commodity. The market was flooded with similar devices from multiple brands, and differentiating them was becoming increasingly difficult. Her task was to find a way to make a commodity feel special, to inject value into something that, on its own, lacked uniqueness. Back in the village, Joe sat with other farmers at the local diner, discussing the volatile prices of commodities. They joked bitterly about how, in a world driven by supply and demand, the value of their hard work was often dictated by forces far beyond their control. Yet, they knew that this was the reality of the global economy — everything, from the wheat they grew to the oil that powered the world, was just another commodity in the endless cycle of trade. In both the rural town and the bustling city, the concept of 'commodity' tied them together, showing the delicate balance between nature, market forces, and the struggle for value in a world where nothing stays unique for long.