inventory
IN-vun-tor-ee
/ˈɪnvəntri/
The entire stock of goods, including clothing, that a store has on hand and available for sale.
Can refer to the physical items themselves or the detailed list/database of those items.
The story behind the word. Traces back to the Latin 'invenire,' which means 'to come upon' or 'to find.' An inventory was originally a list of all the things one 'found' in a particular place, like a merchant's warehouse.
Word relationships
- stock: The most common synonym in retail; 'inventory' sounds slightly more formal/accounting-focused.
- supply: A broader term for any materials available for use.
Commonly confused with
- catalog: A catalog is a list of items for sale; inventory is the actual physical items in the store.
Word family
- inventories (noun): Plural form of inventory.
Collocations
- take inventory
- inventory management
- excess inventory
Example sentences
- "Inventory is money sitting on a shelf." A business proverb about retail.
- "I'm sorry, but our inventory shows that we are currently out of stock for that specific blazer." A manager explaining a delay.
Memory hook
An 'inventory' is a list of 'in' (inside) 'vent' (items) that the 'ory' (store) has. Everything in stock.
When not to use
Do not use for a single item; it refers to the collective stock.
Fun facts
- Many stores close for one day a year to 'take inventory,' which involves physically counting every single item in the building.
Explore more words
catalog, raw materials, production, manufacturing, asset, feedstock
Also appears in
- Business → Operations & Logistics
- Engineering & Industrial Design → Supply Chain Engineering
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Carbon Footprint & Emissions
- Food Science & Culinary Craft → Agricultural Supply Chains
- Home & Domestic Life → Moving & Relocation
- Shopping & Consumer Retail → Supermarkets & Groceries
- Shopping & Consumer Retail → E-commerce & Online Shopping
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