noun

goods

goodz

Goods (noun) means Physical items that are produced, bought and sold; merchandise, as distinct from services. Example: “The port handles roughly forty million tonnes of goods a year.”

noun

Physical items that are produced, bought and sold; merchandise, as distinct from services.

"The port handles roughly forty million tonnes of goods a year."

"Faulty goods can be returned within thirty days."

Possessions belonging to a person; personal property.

"The bailiffs are entitled to seize goods to the value of the debt."

"She packed her worldly goods into two suitcases."

informal In the phrase 'the goods', the proof, information or quality that was promised.

"The police finally got the goods on him."

"Everyone talked up the new album, and it delivers the goods."

How to use goods

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThings that are made and sold, or a person's belongings.

When to use it

Always plural in form and takes a plural verb: the goods are ready. In British rail and freight use it is attributive — a goods train, a goods yard.

Memory tip

Goods has no singular. For one item say an item, a product or a piece of merchandise, never 'a good' outside economics textbooks.

Easily confused with

goods vs. products goods vs. services goods vs. good

Common pairings

goods and services consumer goods luxury goods deliver the goods damaged goods

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The port handles roughly forty million tonnes of _____ a year.

Synonyms

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merchandise products wares commodities stock belongings possessions effects chattels the evidence the proof the real thing

Antonyms

services

Related words

things line services trade blood property stuff completely

Rhymes for goods

woods backwoods

See all rhymes for goods →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between goods and services?

Goods are tangible things you can own and hand over — a phone, a loaf of bread, a car. Services are actions performed for you — a haircut, legal advice, a delivery. The distinction matters in tax, contract law and national accounts, where the two are counted separately.

Is goods singular or plural?

Plural. It takes a plural verb — the goods have arrived — and it has no singular form in ordinary use. Economists do write 'a good' as a technical term, but that usage stays inside economics.

What is the meaning of goods?

"goods" (noun) means physical items that are produced, bought and sold; merchandise, as distinct from services.

What is another word for goods?

Other words for "goods" include merchandise, products, wares, commodities, stock, belongings.

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things line services trade blood property stuff completely