noun
Uncommon
procurement
pruh-KYOOR-muhnt
Procurement (noun) means the process of obtaining goods or services, especially for a business or organization. Example: “The procurement department handles all supplier contracts.”
noun
1
The process of obtaining goods or services, especially for a business or organization.
"The procurement department handles all supplier contracts."
"Procurement of new laptops for the whole office will take several weeks."
"The hospital is changing its procurement rules to make buying supplies fairer and clearer."
2
A department within a company responsible for purchasing.
"Send the request to procurement for approval."
"I work in procurement, so I spend my days negotiating with suppliers."
"Procurement has asked every team to submit its orders by Friday afternoon."
How to use procurement
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe business process (or department) of buying or sourcing what a company needs.
Common pairings
procurement process
procurement department
public procurement
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Word forms
- Plural
- procurements
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The _____ department handles all supplier contracts.
Etymology
From Old French procurement, from procurer, "to procure."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for procurement
cement
element
clement
movement
pavement
tenement
inclement
abatement
amusement
statement
agreement
excrement
See all rhymes for procurement →
Frequently asked questions
What does “procurement” mean?
The word “procurement” means the process of obtaining goods or services, especially for a business or organization. In plain terms, the business process (or department) of buying or sourcing what a company needs.
How do you pronounce “procurement”?
“Procurement” is pronounced pruh-KYOOR-muhnt (/pɹəˈkjʊəɹ.mənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “procurement” in a sentence?
Here is “procurement” used in a sentence: “The procurement department handles all supplier contracts.”
What part of speech is “procurement”?
“Procurement” is a noun.
Where does the word “procurement” come from?
The word “procurement” comes from Old French. From Old French procurement, from procurer, "to procure.".
Is “procurement” a common word?
“Procurement” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “procurement” have?
“Procurement” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process of obtaining goods or services, especially for a business or organization.
What is the difference between procurement and purchasing?
Procurement is the broader process of obtaining goods or services, including sourcing, negotiating, and managing suppliers, while purchasing specifically refers to the act of buying itself. Purchasing is essentially one step within the larger procurement process.
What does it mean when a company has a procurement department?
It means the company has a dedicated team responsible for sourcing and purchasing the goods and services the organization needs, often handling supplier relationships, contracts, and cost management. This sense treats procurement as an organizational unit rather than a process.
Is procurement mostly used in business contexts?
Yes, procurement is primarily a formal, business and government term, commonly used in contexts like public procurement, defense procurement, or corporate procurement policies, rather than in everyday personal shopping.
