noun
consignee
kon-sy-NEE
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.”
noun
1
commercial The person or company to whom goods are sent, and who is named on the shipping documents as the receiver.
"The bill of lading lists the exporter as shipper and our warehouse as consignee."
"Customs will not release the container until the consignee provides the paperwork."
How to use consignee
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe person or business the goods are being sent to.
When to use it
Shipping, freight and legal paperwork.
Memory tip
Keep the -ee/-or pair straight the way you do with employee and employer.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
named consignee
the consignee of record
notify the consignee
consignee address
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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.
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.
What is the meaning of consignee?
"consignee" (noun) means the person or company to whom goods are sent, and who is named on the shipping documents as the receiver.
