verb
barter
BAH-tuh
verb
1
To trade goods or services directly for other goods or services, without using money.
"The farmers bartered grain for tools with neighboring villages."
"They bartered their old furniture for a used car."
noun
1
The practice or system of exchanging goods or services without money.
"Before coins were invented, barter was the main form of trade."
How to Use Barter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo trade something directly for another thing, instead of paying with money.
Common pairings
barter system
barter goods for services
trade and barter
Word Forms
bartered past tense, barters plural, Barters plural, barters singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “barter”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The farmers _____ grain for tools with neighboring villages.
Etymology
From Old French barater, entering English in the late Middle Ages.