noun
Common
inventory
IHN-vuhn-tree
Inventory (noun) means the full stock of goods a business or location currently has. Example: “The shop closes early on Sunday so staff can count its inventory.”
noun
1
The full stock of goods a business or location currently has.
"The shop closes early on Sunday so staff can count its inventory."
"Low inventory meant customers had to wait for the next delivery."
"The warehouse ran a full inventory check before the holiday rush."
2
A detailed list of items on hand.
"The landlord gave us a signed inventory of every item in the flat."
"Write an inventory of the tools before you lend them to anyone."
"She kept a careful inventory of all the props for the play."
verb
1
To make a list of items or stock on hand.
"The clerk inventoried every shelf before the shop was sold."
"We need to inventory the supplies once a month."
"They spent the weekend inventorying the storage room."
How to use inventory
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe stock of goods a business has, or the list recording it.
Common pairings
take inventory
inventory levels
inventory management
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Word forms
- Plural
- inventories
- Third person singular
- inventories
- Past tense
- inventoried
Fill the gap
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The shop closes early on Sunday so staff can count its _____.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin inventōrium, from Latin inveniō, "to find out."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for inventory
See all rhymes for inventory →Frequently asked questions
What does “inventory” mean?
The word “inventory” means the full stock of goods a business or location currently has. In plain terms, the stock of goods a business has, or the list recording it.
How do you pronounce “inventory”?
“Inventory” is pronounced IHN-vuhn-tree (/ˈɪn.vənˌtɔɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “inventory” in a sentence?
Here is “inventory” used in a sentence: “The warehouse ran a full inventory check before the holiday rush.”
What part of speech is “inventory”?
Depending on how it is used, “inventory” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “inventory” come from?
The word “inventory” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin inventōrium, from Latin inveniō, "to find out.".
Is “inventory” a common word?
“Inventory” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “inventory” have?
“Inventory” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the full stock of goods a business or location currently has.
What is the difference between "inventory" and "stock"?
"Stock" usually refers to the goods a business has available, while "inventory" can mean both those goods and the detailed list recording them. In American English "inventory" is often used where British English would say "stock."
Can "inventory" be used as a verb?
Yes, to "inventory" something means to make a detailed list of the items on hand, as in "staff inventoried the warehouse." Used this way it describes the act of counting and recording what is held.
What is the difference between "inventory" and "stocktaking"?
"Stocktaking" is the process of counting and checking the goods a business holds, usually at set times. "Inventory" can refer to the goods themselves, the list of them, or, as a verb, the act of counting them.
What words commonly go with "inventory"?
Common collocations include "take inventory," "inventory management," "physical inventory," and "excess inventory." Businesses also speak of "inventory levels" to describe how much stock they hold.
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