A commodity is a basic good, like oil, wheat, or metals, that can be bought, sold, and traded, usually in large amounts. The individual units are mostly the same no matter who produces them.
From Latin *commoditas* “suitability, advantage,” from *commodus* “proper, convenient, useful,” from *com-* “together” + *modus* “measure, manner.” It shifted from “usefulness” to “useful goods” in trade.
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