Back-order is a term that is commonly used in the business world, particularly in the retail and manufacturing industries. It refers to a situation where a customer orders a product that is currently out of stock, and the supplier agrees to deliver the product at a later date when it becomes available. In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and associations of back-order, as well as its synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences.
Definitions
According to Merriam-Webster, back-order is defined as “an order for a product or service that is temporarily out of stock and will be filled at a later date.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “an order for goods that cannot be immediately supplied but will be dispatched as soon as they become available.”
Origin
The term back-order originated in the United States in the early 20th century. It was first used in the manufacturing industry to describe a situation where a company had more orders than it could fulfill with its current inventory. The term quickly spread to other industries, such as retail, where it is still commonly used today.
Meaning in different dictionaries
The meaning of back-order is consistent across different dictionaries. It refers to an order for a product that is currently out of stock, and the supplier agrees to deliver the product at a later date when it becomes available.
Associations
Back-order is often associated with delays and inconvenience for customers. It can be frustrating for a customer to order a product and then have to wait for it to become available. However, back-order can also be a useful tool for suppliers to manage their inventory and ensure that they are not overstocked with products that are not in high demand.
Synonyms
Some synonyms for back-order include:
- Out of stock.
- Unavailable.
- Temporarily unavailable.
- On order.
- Pre-order.
Antonyms
Some antonyms for back-order include:
- In stock.
- Available.
- Ready to ship.
- In supply.
- On hand.
The same root words
There are no root words for back-order, as it is a compound word made up of “back” and “order.”
Example Sentences
Here are some example sentences that use the term back-order:
- “I’m sorry, but the product you ordered is currently on back-order. We expect to receive more stock in two weeks.”
- “We apologize for the inconvenience, but the item you ordered is temporarily unavailable. We can put you on a back-order list and notify you when it becomes available.”
- “Due to high demand, this product is currently on back-order. We appreciate your patience and understanding.”
- “The company is experiencing a back-order backlog, which is causing delays in fulfilling customer orders.”
- “Customers who pre-order this product will receive it as soon as it becomes available, rather than having to wait for a back-order to be fulfilled.”