RMA
3 synonyms for RMA, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Return Merchandise Authorisation: approval from a seller for a customer to send back a faulty or unwanted item, and the reference number issued with it.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
return authorisation
returns number
How to use RMA
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
RMA number
raise an RMA
RMA request
under RMA
Business and technical support jargon. Spelled Authorization in the American original, which is how the term is written even in British trade use.
Etymology
An initialism of Return Merchandise Authorization.
Full origin of RMA →Frequently asked questions
What does RMA stand for?
Return Merchandise Authorization, sometimes given as Return Material Authorization. Both refer to the same thing: a supplier's formal approval for goods to be sent back, tracked by a unique number.
What is the difference between an RMA and a refund?
An RMA only authorises the return and lets the seller track the incoming parcel. The outcome may be a repair, a replacement or a refund, and that is decided once the item has been received and inspected.
Do I need an RMA number to return something?
For most business and electronics suppliers, yes — parcels arriving without one are often refused or left unprocessed, because the warehouse has no way to match the goods to an order.
