# goods

/ˈɡʊdz/ (US) · /ɡˈʊdz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/goods
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. products for sale

noun · CEFR B1

items that are made to be bought and sold.

For teachers: merchandise or possessions; items produced for trade and consumption.

- The shop sells a wide range of leather goods, including bags and belts.
- The global supply chain was disrupted, leading to a significant shortage of consumer goods across several major retail sectors.

### 2. freight

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

items that are carried by a train, truck, or ship, rather than people.

For teachers: freight or cargo transported by road, rail, or sea, as distinct from passengers.

- A goods train blocked the tracks for several hours after the engine failed.
- The station was originally designed to handle both passengers and heavy goods, though the freight yard has since been converted into a car park.

### 3. the truth or evidence

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the real facts or evidence about someone, especially if they have done something wrong.

For teachers: incriminating evidence or the authentic facts regarding a situation or person.

- The police finally got the goods on the thief after finding the stolen money.
- The investigative journalist spent months undercover, eventually delivering the goods on the company's illegal waste disposal practices.

### 4. talent or quality

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the skills or qualities needed to do a job well.

For teachers: the necessary ability, quality, or competence required for a specific task.

- The new striker really has the goods and scored three goals in his first game.
- Despite his lack of formal experience, the board felt the candidate had the goods to lead the firm through the upcoming merger.

## Examples

- The shop sells a wide range of leather goods.
- The company specializes in moving perishable goods across the country using refrigerated trucks.
- Economists distinguish between public and private goods based on whether one person's consumption prevents another from using the same resource.

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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.