black-market
Shadow economy venue
Black-market describes goods or transactions conducted outside legal channels, typically to evade taxes, regulations, or prohibitions: black-market cigarettes, black-market organs.
As a verb, to black-market is to trade in such goods.
The noun black market (usually unhyphenated) is the underground economy itself: The drug found its way onto the black market.
Moved goods illegally
- traffickedTraded illegally
- bootlegIllegally produced goods
- illicitProhibited by law
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
forbidden · banned · stolen · counterfeit · fake · knockoff · pirated · fenced
Concealed from authorities
- secretConcealed information
- hiddenKept out of sight
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- back-alleyClandestine, done covertly
illicit · surreptitious · discreet · shadowy · stash · dead drop · coded · encrypted
Illegal transport for profit
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
racketeering · kingpin · dealer · fence · middleman · mule · courier · organized crime
Unrecorded commercial activity
- underground economyUnreported commercial activity
- off-the-booksUnrecorded for tax purposes
- unreported incomeMoney not disclosed officially
- unregulatedNot controlled by rules
under-the-table · tax evasion · money laundering · untaxed · barter · price gouging · profiteering · scarcity
smuggled
Moved goods illegally
- traffickedTraded illegally
- bootlegIllegally produced goods
- illicitProhibited by law
prohibited · forbidden · banned · stolen · counterfeit · fake · knockoff · pirated · fenced · hot
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- secretConcealed information
- hiddenKept out of sight
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
back-alley · illicit · surreptitious · discreet · shadowy · stash · dead drop · coded · encrypted · burner phone
trafficking
Illegal transport for profit
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
mafia · racketeering · kingpin · dealer · fence · middleman · mule · courier · organized crime · gang
shadow economy
Unrecorded commercial activity
- underground economyUnreported commercial activity
- off-the-booksUnrecorded for tax purposes
- unreported incomeMoney not disclosed officially
unregulated · under-the-table · tax evasion · money laundering · untaxed · barter · price gouging · profiteering · scarcity · rationing
black-marketaboveboard
Honest and unconcealed
licensed · authorized · legitimate · official · genuine
black-marketaboveboard
Honest and unconcealed
open market · free market · public market · transparent · above-ground