inventory
IN-vuhn-tor-ee
/ˈɪnvəntɔːri/
The complete list of items or raw materials currently in stock and available for sale.
It can refer to the physical goods themselves or the digital record of them.
The story behind the word. Coming from the Latin 'invenire' (to find), an inventory was originally a list of things 'found' in a house or shop. It is the same root that gives us the word 'invent.'
Word relationships
- stock: Stock is more common in casual retail; inventory is the professional and accounting term.
Commonly confused with
- catalog: A catalog shows everything a company can sell; inventory is what they currently have to sell.
Word family
- inventorial (adjective): Relating to inventory.
Collocations
- inventory management
- stock inventory
- low inventory
Example sentences
- "The store had to cancel several orders because their digital inventory was out of sync with the physical stock." A business warning.
Memory hook
An 'Inventory' is a list of things you 'Invented' a place for in your warehouse. What's in the box?
When not to use
Do not use this for services; you have an inventory of shoes, but not an inventory of haircuts.
Fun facts
- The 'Just-in-Time' inventory system was pioneered by Toyota to reduce waste by only keeping what is immediately needed.
Related words
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 → Clothing Stores & Fitting Rooms
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