gift economy
noun
plural gift economies
: a system in which goods and services are given freely between people rather than sold or bartered
The gift economy—a system whereby goods are not sold but given away—has been around for as long as we've had things.—
Patricia Marx
compare market economy
Patricia MarxExamples of gift economy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In short chapters punctuated by line drawings from illustrator John Burgoyne, this sweet offering builds on her ideas about the gift economy and how Indigenous wisdom might inform it.
—Meera Subramanian, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
The nature of seed sharing is based on a gift economy.
—Tamara Yakaboski, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Hyde begins with a lengthy discussion of gift economies, like those found on the South Sea islands or among Indigenous Americans.
—Meghan O'Gieblyn, WIRED, 20 Feb. 2024
One way to approach the episode might have been to see it as an inevitable, if uncomfortable, outgrowth of a movement that encouraged people to feel communal ownership of their local gift economies.
—WIRED, 23 Feb. 2023
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.
Meera Subramanian, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
The nature of seed sharing is based on a gift economy.
—Tamara Yakaboski, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Hyde begins with a lengthy discussion of gift economies, like those found on the South Sea islands or among Indigenous Americans.
—Meghan O'Gieblyn, WIRED, 20 Feb. 2024
One way to approach the episode might have been to see it as an inevitable, if uncomfortable, outgrowth of a movement that encouraged people to feel communal ownership of their local gift economies.
—WIRED, 23 Feb. 2023
Articles Related to gift economy
Dictionary Entries Near gift economy
Cite this Entry
“Gift economy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gift%20economy. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share