consignee
Consignee (noun) means the person or company to whom goods are sent, and who is named on the shipping documents as the receiver. Example: “The bill of lading lists the exporter as shipper and our warehouse as consignee.”
How to Use Consignee
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe person or business the goods are being sent to.
Shipping, freight and legal paperwork.
Keep the -ee/-or pair straight the way you do with employee and employer.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bill of lading lists the exporter as shipper and our warehouse as _____.
Etymology
From consign, from Latin consignare "to mark with a seal", with the suffix -ee marking the person on the receiving end of the action.
Synonyms
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Related Words
Rhymes for consignee
See all rhymes for consignee →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a consignee and a consignor?
The consignor sends the goods; the consignee receives them. On a bill of lading the consignor is normally the seller or exporter, and the consignee is the buyer, their agent or the destination warehouse. The -or ending marks the doer, the -ee ending the receiver.
Does the consignee own the goods?
Not automatically. Being named consignee gives the right to take delivery, but ownership depends on the sale contract and the shipping documents. Under a consignment arrangement in retail, the goods remain the sender's property until they are sold.
Can the consignee be different from the buyer?
Yes, and often is. The consignee may be a freight forwarder, a customs broker or a distribution centre acting for the buyer. The buyer is the party paying; the consignee is simply the party the carrier must deliver to.