ENGLISH
REFERENCE

purchase

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈpɝtʃəs// UK //pˈɜːtʃɪs// pur·chase Academic Archaic General-service

n. something that you have bought. It is a more formal word for 'buy' and is often used in business or when talking about expensive things.

n. an item or service acquired through the payment of money. Frequently used in formal, commercial, or legal contexts to refer to the transaction or the object itself.


SIMPLE

Please keep the receipt for your purchase.

CONTEXTUAL

The company made a significant purchase of new software to improve their security systems.

COMPLEX

Under the terms of the agreement, any purchase exceeding five thousand dollars requires the written approval of the board of directors.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English purchasen, from Anglo-Norman purchacer (“seek to obtain”) from pur- (from Latin pro-) + chac(i)er (“to chase, pursue”). Compare Old French porchacier (“to follow, to chase”), which has given French pourchasser (“to chase without relent”).

Usage

Countable when referring to specific items; uncountable when referring to the act of buying in a general sense.

© 2026 English Reference