consignment
kuhn-SAYN-muhnt
/kənˈsaɪnmənt/
A batch of goods sent to an agent or customer, often with payment deferred until sale; a large shipment of goods.
Implies a formal commercial arrangement where goods are delivered to a third party to sell, or a large, official shipment.
The story behind the word. Consignment comes from the French 'consigner', which is derived from the Latin 'consignare', meaning 'to seal or register'. This is a compound of 'com-' (together) and 'signare' (to sign or seal), reflecting the formal, signed agreement that accompanies such shipments.
Word relationships
- shipment: A general term for goods transported, while consignment often implies a specific legal or financial agreement regarding the sale of those goods.
- cargo: Refers physically to the goods carried by a ship, plane, or truck, without the commercial/financial connotation of consignment.
Commonly confused with
- assignment: An assignment is a task or piece of work given to someone, while a consignment is a physical batch of goods shipped for sale.
Word family
- consign (verb): To deliver goods to another's custody; to assign to a specific place or fate.
- consignee (noun): The person to whom a consignment is sent.
- consignor (noun): The person who sends a consignment of goods.
Collocations
- on consignment
- consignment of goods
- receive a consignment
- consignment store
Example sentences
- "The boutique agreed to sell the local artist's paintings on consignment, taking a small commission on each sale." Retail business
- "A large consignment of medical supplies arrived at the port to help with the disaster relief effort." International trade
Memory hook
When you 'consign' goods, you 'sign' a contract to sell them together with a partner. Consignment: Goods sent under a signed agreement.
When not to use
Do not use for a single personal letter or a small, casual gift sent to a friend.
Fun facts
- Consignment shops are popular for vintage clothing and high-end goods, allowing owners to sell items through a store without the store buying them upfront.
Explore more words
distribution, warehousing, inventory, broker, transaction, Escrow
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