commodity
UK[kəˈmɒdəti]US[kəˈmɑːdəti]
n
A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee.
n
Something useful or valuable.
Morpheme Breakdown
com
mod
ity
com
with/together
mod
measure/manner
ity
noun suffix
Etymology
The word commodity originates from the Latin commoditas, meaning "fitness, convenience, advantage." This noun was derived from commodus, which combines com- ("with") and modus ("measure, standard"). The core logic is that of something being of suitable or convenient measure, thus fitting a need. Over time, this sense of general suitability and convenience evolved in Middle English via Old French commodité to denote a useful or valuable thing. In economic contexts, it narrowed further to specify a standardized, interchangeable good produced for trade, perfectly aligning with the original concept of a "convenient measure" for exchange.
Analysis
Structure: com (with/together) + mod (measure/manner) + ity (noun suffix)
com: Latin prefix, from cum, meaning "with" or "together."
mod: Latin root, from modus, meaning "measure," "manner," or "standard."
ity: Latin suffix, from -itas, forming nouns indicating a state or condition.
Examples
Crude oil is the world's most traded commodity.
In the modern job market, technical skills have become a valuable commodity.
The country's economy relies heavily on the export of agricultural commodities like wheat and soybeans.