Sherman Antitrust Act

noun

an act of Congress (1890) prohibiting any contract, conspiracy, or combination of business interests in restraint of foreign or interstate trade.

A federal law passed in 1890 that committed the American government to opposing monopolies . The law prohibits contracts , combinations, or conspiracies “in the restraint of trade or commerce.” Under the authority of the Sherman Antitrust Act, the federal government initiated suits against the Standard Oil Company and the American Tobacco Company. ( See trust busting .)

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Sherman Antitrust Act¹

Named after John Sherman, who introduced the bill in Congress

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The letter calls for the Justice Department to launch an industry-wide investigation into possible violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

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Relevent sued claiming violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and tortious interference.

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That case, filed on behalf of three new home sellers, also claims the practice of having home sellers pay sales commissions to buyers’ agents is a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

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Agents who are members of NAR must follow the organization’s policies when buying, selling and listing homes, including the policy that led to what home sellers in the lawsuits described as a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act by inflating seller costs.

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After the Rough Rider was out of office, the Sherman Antitrust Act was used again to break up Standard Oil, led by John D. Rockefeller, America’s first billionaire.

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Sherman Sherman's march to the sea

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