Word
purchasing
Phoneticspur·chas·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɝtʃəsɪŋ/
UK/pˈɜːtʃɪsɪŋ/
Definitions
01the act of buying
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act or process of buying something.
n. 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.
“The company is centralizing its purchasing to save money on office supplies.”
“The sudden increase in online purchasing during the holiday season put significant pressure on the local delivery infrastructure.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a business department
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Business Academic · Formal
n. the department in a large company or government that is in charge of buying goods.
n. the formal organizational function or department responsible for the strategic procurement of goods and services. Often used as a modifier before another noun.
“You need to send the invoice to the purchasing department for approval.”
“The purchasing manager negotiated a long-term contract with the primary steel supplier to hedge against future price volatility.”
Usage
Often functions as an attributive noun, as in 'purchasing manager' or 'purchasing department'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “purchasing” in context.
Noun
01. purchasing power
“Inflation can significantly reduce the purchasing power of consumers over time.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“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.” “While Isidor Straus oversaw the store’s internal operations, Nathan focused on the company’s external activities, such as purchasing, marketing and dealing with government and business leaders.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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