logistics
n. uncountablen. the careful planning and organization of a complicated activity. It involves moving people, equipment, or supplies to the right place at the right time.
n. the detailed coordination of a complex operation involving many people, facilities, or supplies. Originally a military term, it now describes the management of the flow of things between the point of origin and the point of consumption.
The logistics of moving the whole office took weeks of planning.
The company hired a specialist to handle the logistics of shipping their products to international markets.
While the marketing campaign was a creative success, the project ultimately failed because the underlying logistics could not support the sudden surge in consumer demand.
From French logistique, coined or popularized 1830 by Antoine-Henri Jomini from logis (“lodging place”), in phrases maréchal des logis (“marshall of lodging”) (see maréchal des logis), major-général des logis (“major-general of lodging”). Possibly influenced by existing mathematical term logistique, of Ancient Greek origin; see logistic.
Usually treated as a singular noun despite the 's' ending, though it can be plural when referring to specific individual steps in a process.
The logistics are very difficult.The logistics is very difficult.Like 'mathematics' or 'physics', logistics is typically treated as a singular noun in modern business English.