consignment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "consignment" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts related to shipping, retail, or logistics, referring to goods that are sent to a retailer or agent for sale, with payment made only after the sale. Example: "The store received a new consignment of shoes that will be available for purchase next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The conventions apply whenever goods have been consigned under a through consignment note for carriage over the territories of at least two of the contracting states and on certain specified lines.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Just bought a huge consignment of gourmet espresso capsules even though you don't drink coffee?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

My favourites include: The Statistics Society ("Stats Soc has taken delivery of large consignment of tea. There will be a student T-distribution next week").; The Short Attention Span Society ("Will meet on... oops, I stepped in... are they serving burritos for... I forgot my... ......); and The Societies Society ("promoting meta-analysis and academic overthinking").

The Guardian

Two senior officials, including the unit's deputy commissioner, were suspended after their boss, a Zuma appointee, accused them of illegally investigating Mr Zuma.A more colourful explanation for their suspension may be that they crossed paths with the government over a consignment of bright yellow T-shirts bearing the president's grinning face.

The Economist

India did immediately offer to send relief supplies and, on October 11th, a full three days after the earthquake, a small consignment arrived in Pakistan.

The Economist

The first consignment of GAVI vaccines arrived at Caia on April 6th.To qualify for help, countries must show that they are eager and competent to run vaccination programmes.

The Economist

Most of the seized goods were made by Norinco, China's largest state-owned arms manufacturer.The consignment was ideally suited to guerilla warfare: it included more than 1,000 assault rifles, submachine guns with silencers, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, over 25,000 hand grenades, and 1.8m rounds of rifle ammunition.

The Economist

In 1992 Kenneth Nnebue, a trader, ordered a large consignment of blank videotapes from Taiwan.

The Economist

Despite a long relationship with Christie's, which had overseen three previous auctions of Fonthill treasures, his lordship showed the cranes to all the major auction houses and asked them to bid on the consignment.

The Economist

So a consignment from Tai's collection was worth marketing on its own merit, and Sotheby's duly gathered the pieces together into a catalogue of their own.

The Economist

A consignment from Russia had been stalled by sanctions against that country, Mr Abadi said.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing goods being held for sale where the seller is paid only after the goods are sold, use "consignment". This highlights the specific business arrangement.

Common error

Avoid using "consignment" when simply referring to a delivery or shipment without the specific business arrangement of payment upon sale. Use "shipment" or "delivery" instead.

Linguistic Context

The word "consignment" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a batch of goods delivered for sale or transport. Ludwig AI identifies its use in contexts ranging from commercial shipments to historical trade practices, highlighting its role in describing the movement and handling of goods.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "consignment" is a frequently used noun that describes a batch of goods for sale or transport. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalent use in various contexts, particularly in business, news, and encyclopedic sources. When using the word, it's important to consider the context. The term "consignment" implies a specific arrangement where payment is made after the sale. Alternatives include "shipment", "delivery", and "cargo", each carrying subtle differences. Understanding these nuances is essential for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shipment

Focuses more on the act of shipping goods.

delivery

Emphasizes the act of delivering goods to a final destination.

load

Highlights the quantity of goods being transported.

batch

Suggests a group of items produced or handled at the same time.

lot

Indicates a collection of items, often for sale or auction.

cargo

Specifically refers to goods transported by ship, plane, or truck.

freight

Implies goods transported for commercial purposes.

merchandise

Focuses on goods intended for sale.

stock

Refers to the total amount of goods available for sale or distribution.

supply

Highlights the provision of goods to meet a demand.

FAQs

How is "consignment" typically used in a sentence?

The word "consignment" is generally used to describe a batch of goods that is sent to someone for sale, where the seller gets paid only after the goods are sold. For example, "We received a large "shipment" of dresses on consignment."

What words can I use instead of "consignment"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "shipment", "delivery", or "cargo" to replace "consignment".

What does "on consignment" mean?

When goods are sold "on consignment", it means the seller only pays the supplier after the goods are sold. The supplier retains ownership of the goods until they are sold.

Is "consignment" formal or informal language?

"Consignment" is generally considered neutral to formal language, especially in business or legal contexts. In everyday conversation, simpler terms like "delivery" or "shipment" may be more common.