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Glite Dictionary
combination in restraint of trade

combination in restraint of trade

9.5
An agreement between companies that limits competition, often by fixing prices, and is illegal under US law
  • noun
  • /ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃən ɪn rɪˈstreɪnt əv treɪd/
  • Formal
translation icon : combinación en restricción del comercio
  • The judge ruled on a combination in restraint of trade.

The legal question, and it stands to reason that it is, you know, the, the legal question becomes have they formed a combination in restraint of trade?

Examples

  • Any combination in restraint of trade is prohibited under the Sherman Antitrust Act.

  • His legal team argued that their agreement did not constitute a combination in restraint of trade.

  • The court found that the firms had engaged in a combination in restraint of trade by fixing prices.

  • Are you aware of any combinations in restraint of trade in this industry?

  • The government intervened after discovering a combination in restraint of trade that unfairly raised prices for consumers.

  • The court ruled that the company had engaged in a combination in restraint of trade by colluding with competitors to set minimum prices.

  • Investigators found evidence of a combination in restraint of trade that limited market access for new businesses in the industry.

Synonyms

combine
vscombination in restraint of trade
3 7.1

A group of companies that join to control production and reduce competition

is declared illegal under United States antitrust laws because it limits competition
restraint of trade
vscombination in restraint of trade
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A rule or action that stops free competition between businesses

specifies an illegal group agreement among parties rather than any general policy
cartelization
vscombination in restraint of trade
  • Specialized
9.7

Businesses agree to fix prices and limit production to reduce competition

is identified as an illegal agreement rather than merely the process of forming it

Antonyms

competition
416 2.1

A person or team you are trying to beat

free trade
57 3.5

Buying and selling between countries without government taxes or limits

Surface Forms

combination in restraint of trade singular
combinations in restraint of trade plural

Morphology

combination + in + restraint + of + trade

The core meaning — an alliance or combination that restricts trade — is directly and compositionally derived from 'combination' (alliance) + 'restraint' (restriction) + 'trade' (buying/selling), following straightforward English noun+prepositional phrase patterns. The specific legal nuance (that such agreements are illegal under U.S. antitrust law) is specialized, but an average B1 learner who knows the constituent words would understand the basic idea, so the expression is transparent.

Etymology

The legal phrase combination in restraint of trade comes from the simple image of sellers forming a combination to put restraint on trade, like merchants joining to block a market so others cannot sell. That's why it now means an agreement that creates a 'monopoly' or 'limits competition'.