buffer
BUF-er
/ˈbʌf.ər/
A person or thing that reduces a shock or forms a barrier between incompatible or antagonistic things; in supply chain, extra stock kept to protect against uncertainty.
A buffer is intentional. It is the 'safety margin' designed to absorb fluctuations in demand or supply.
The story behind the word. From the Middle English 'buffen,' meaning 'to strike' or 'to puff.' It originally referred to a device on a railway car that absorbed the shock of a collision.
Word relationships
- cushion: Cushion is more informal; buffer is used in technical and industrial contexts.
- safeguard: A safeguard is a protection against a specific threat; a buffer is a general absorber of variance.
- catalyst: A catalyst speeds up or provokes a reaction, whereas a buffer dampens or slows it.
Commonly confused with
- inventory: Inventory is all stock; a buffer is the specific portion of inventory kept for emergencies.
Word family
- buffering (verb): The process of filling a buffer (often used in video streaming).
Collocations
- buffer stock
- safety buffer
- time buffer
- act as a buffer
Example sentences
- "The first thing you do is you put a buffer in front of the bottleneck." Managing a bottleneck in a factory.
- "We kept a cash buffer in the savings account to cover any unexpected medical bills." Financial planning.
Memory hook
A buffer is like a 'buff' guy standing between two people fighting to stop the 'shocks.' Absorb the blow.
When not to use
Don't use it for a permanent increase in size; a buffer is specifically for absorbing shocks.
Fun facts
- In chemistry, a buffer is a solution that resists changes in pH when acid or alkali is added.
Related words
Explore more words
safeguard, padding, intermediary, vestibule, protective, surplus
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