purchasing
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act or process of buying something.
the action of acquiring goods or services in exchange for payment. Uncountable in a general sense, though it can be countable when referring to specific instances.
Simple“The company is centralizing its purchasing to save money on office supplies.”
In context“The sudden increase in online purchasing during the holiday season put significant pressure on the local delivery infrastructure.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the department in a large company or government that is in charge of buying goods.
the formal organizational function or department responsible for the strategic procurement of goods and services. Often used as a modifier before another noun.
Simple“You need to send the invoice to the purchasing department for approval.”
In context“The purchasing manager negotiated a long-term contract with the primary steel supplier to hedge against future price volatility.”
UsageOften functions as an attributive noun, as in 'purchasing manager' or 'purchasing department'.
Synonymsprocurement departmentsupply chain
Usage purchasing power
“Social media has become an important source of information for consumers making purchasing decisions, with prior research finding that more than 90% of consumers consult social media before making a purchase.”
“Funding for capital expenses, like purchasing land or building schools, is still set locally.”