acquisition
ak-wih-ZISH-uhn
/ˌækwɪˈzɪʃən/
An asset or object bought or obtained, typically by a library, museum, or collector; the act of acquiring.
Implies a formal, deliberate, and often valuable addition to a collection, rather than a casual purchase.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Latin 'acquirere', meaning 'to seek and add to what one already has.' It shares a root with 'inquire' and 'quest' (from 'quaerere', to seek). In the corporate and museum worlds, it has long designated the formal process of expanding a portfolio or collection.
Word relationships
- purchase: Purchase is a general term for anything bought, while acquisition emphasizes the strategic addition of a valuable asset to a collection.
- addition: Addition is a simple term for adding something, whereas acquisition carries a more formal, permanent, and valuable connotation.
- divestment: Divestment is the selling off or disposal of assets or items from a collection.
- loss: Loss refers to the unintentional deprivation of an item through theft, damage, or misplacement.
Commonly confused with
- requisition: Requisition is an official demand or request for the use of property, while acquisition is the permanent obtaining of ownership.
Word family
- acquire (verb): To buy or obtain an asset or object.
- acquisitive (adjective): Excessively interested in acquiring money or material things.
Collocations
- latest acquisition
- recent acquisition
- acquisition policy
- prize acquisition
Example sentences
- "The museum's latest acquisition is a rare 17th-century landscape painting by a Dutch master." A museum press release.
- "The university library has a dedicated budget for the acquisition of rare manuscripts and historical documents." A discussion on library science.
Memory hook
Think of 'acquire' + 'addition'. An acquisition is the formal 'addition' of something you worked hard to 'acquire'. A prized new addition.
When not to use
Do not use for everyday, mundane purchases (e.g., 'my new acquisition of milk from the grocery store' is incorrect).
Fun facts
- Museums often have strict 'acquisition committees' that must vote on whether to accept or reject donated items based on their historical value.
Related words
Explore more words
retention, dominate, procurement, transaction, annexation, requisition
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