# chandler

/ˈtʃændɫɝ/ (US) · /tʃˈændlɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chandler
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. ship supplier

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a person or shop that sells equipment and supplies for ships.

For teachers: a dealer in specific provisions or equipment, most frequently used in the compound 'ship chandler' to describe a maritime supplier.

- The captain went to the ship chandler to buy new ropes and tools for the voyage.
- The old port was lined with various chandlers, each specialising in the heavy-duty hardware and preserved rations required for long-haul maritime expeditions.

Usage: Often appears as part of the compound 'ship chandler'.

Teaching tip: This is the most likely sense a learner will encounter in modern coastal or port cities.

## Examples

- The local chandler sells handmade beeswax candles.
- Before electricity became common, every town had a chandler to supply the community with light.
- The historical museum features a reconstructed workshop where a master chandler demonstrates the traditional method of dipping wicks into hot tallow.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.