The consignor sends the goods; the consignee receives them. The -or ending marks the sender, the -ee ending the receiver — the same pattern as employer and employee. On a shipping document these are two of the three parties, alongside the carrier who moves the freight.
The core difference
- consignor — the party sending goods. Also called the shipper.
- consignee — the party receiving them, named on the shipping document.
The -or and -ee pattern
English marks this relationship consistently: employer and employee, payor and payee, lessor and lessee, mortgagor and mortgagee. The -ee ending marks the party on the receiving end, and once you see it the whole family of legal pairs becomes readable.
The third party
Shipping documents normally name three roles, and confusing them causes real problems:
- Consignor — sends.
- Consignee — receives.
- Carrier — transports, and issues the bill of lading.
A fourth, the notify party, is told of arrival but may not be the consignee — often a customs broker.
Why it matters legally
The consignee is usually the party with the right to claim the goods on arrival, and title often transfers to them at a defined point. Naming the wrong consignee can mean the wrong party can legally collect a shipment. In international trade the exact moment risk and title pass is governed by the agreed Incoterm, not by the labels alone.
Consignment, and the retail sense
The related word has a distinct commercial meaning: goods sold on consignment remain the property of the consignor until sold, and the retailer takes a commission rather than buying stock. A consignment shop operates on exactly that basis, which is why it differs from a shop that buys second-hand goods outright.
Where the word comes from
Consign is Latin consignare, to mark with a sign or seal — the sense of formally handing something over under seal. The same root gives sign, signature and design.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a consignor and a consignee?
The consignor sends the goods; the consignee receives them. The -or and -ee endings mark sender and receiver, as in employer and employee.
Is the consignor the same as the shipper?
In most usage yes — both name the party sending the goods. The carrier, which physically transports them, is a separate party.
What does selling on consignment mean?
The goods stay the property of the consignor until sold, and the retailer takes a commission rather than buying the stock outright.