purchased by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "purchased by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the buyer of a product or service in various contexts, such as sales receipts, contracts, or reports. Example: "The artwork was purchased by a private collector at the auction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Their malt syrup was purchased by bootleggers.

The New York Times - Arts

In 1860, Menton was purchased by France.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The ticket must be purchased by Wednesday.

The New York Times - Travel

Tickets must be purchased by April 24.

The New York Times

Beatport was also recently purchased by SFX.

The Guardian - Music

Both properties were purchased by builders.

The New York Times

The C.D. Voy collection, purchased by D.O.

University of California, Berkeley

Tickets cannot be purchased by phone.

The New York Times - Travel

In 1860 Menton was purchased by France.

Britannica

In 2005 PHC was purchased by Petters Group Worldwide.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The old company was purchased by YourGrocer.com, Mr. MacCannell said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "purchased by", ensure the sentence clearly indicates who or what entity is doing the purchasing and what is being purchased. This avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "purchased by" when the active voice is more direct and clear. For example, instead of "The book was purchased by John", write "John purchased the book".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "purchased by" functions as a passive construction indicating the agent of a transaction. It describes who acquired ownership of something, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples, where the passive voice is used to emphasize the object or recipient of the action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "purchased by" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction, employed to indicate the buyer in a transaction. According to Ludwig, it appears across a variety of contexts, from news reports and academic papers to encyclopedias, although it is most prevalent in news and media. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, it can convey a sense of formality. Alternative phrases, such as "acquired by" or "bought by", can offer slight variations in formality and emphasis. Overall, "purchased by" is a versatile and reliable option for expressing acquisition, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acquired by

Focuses on the act of gaining possession, often used in business contexts.

bought by

A more direct and common way to express that someone made a purchase.

obtained by

Implies effort or a process in acquiring something.

procured by

Emphasizes the act of obtaining something, often through official means.

secured by

Suggests that something was obtained through effort or competition.

was the buyer of

Rephrases the sentence to highlight the role of the buyer.

ownership transferred to

Highlights the change in ownership.

passed into the hands of

A more descriptive way of saying something was acquired.

in the possession of

Focuses on the current state of ownership after the purchase.

came into the possession of

Describes how something became owned by someone.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "purchased by" to sound more formal?

Consider using phrases such as "acquired by" or "procured by" to achieve a more formal tone.

What's a simpler way to say "purchased by"?

A simpler alternative is "bought by", which is more direct and commonly used in everyday language.

Is there a difference between "purchased by" and "bought by"?

While both convey the same meaning, "purchased by" is often perceived as slightly more formal than "bought by".

How to use "purchased by" in a sentence?

Use "purchased by" to indicate who or what acquired something, like: "The painting was purchased by a private collector".