noun
Common
purchasing
Purchasing (noun) means the activity or process of buying goods or services, especially within a business. Example: “She works in purchasing, ordering office supplies and equipment for the whole company.”
noun
1
The activity or process of buying goods or services, especially within a business.
"She works in purchasing, ordering office supplies and equipment for the whole company."
"The purchasing department negotiates prices with suppliers."
"Careful purchasing kept costs under budget this quarter."
How to use purchasing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe business function or process of buying things, from sourcing suppliers to paying invoices.
Common pairings
purchasing power
purchasing manager
purchasing department
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Word forms
- Plural
- purchasings
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She works in _____, ordering office supplies and equipment for the whole company.
Related words
Rhymes for purchasing
casing
basing
easing
teasing
leasing
chasing
pleasing
phrasing
greasing
releasing
increasing
decreasing
See all rhymes for purchasing →
Frequently asked questions
What does “purchasing” mean?
The word “purchasing” means the activity or process of buying goods or services, especially within a business. In plain terms, the business function or process of buying things, from sourcing suppliers to paying invoices.
How do you use “purchasing” in a sentence?
Here is “purchasing” used in a sentence: “The purchasing department negotiates prices with suppliers.”
What part of speech is “purchasing”?
“Purchasing” is a noun.
Is “purchasing” a common word?
“Purchasing” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between purchasing and procurement?
Purchasing is the transactional side of buying — raising orders, receiving goods, and arranging payment — while procurement is the broader strategic process that also covers identifying needs, sourcing suppliers, negotiating contracts, and managing vendor relationships. Many companies treat purchasing as one function within procurement.
What is the difference between purchasing and buying?
Both refer to obtaining goods or services for money, but buying is the neutral everyday word, while purchasing is more formal and typical of business, legal, and official contexts. You buy groceries, but a company's purchasing department acquires supplies.
What does a purchasing department do?
A purchasing department handles the process of buying goods and services for an organization: selecting suppliers, issuing purchase orders, tracking deliveries, and controlling spending. Its goal is to obtain what the business needs at the right quality, price, and time.
What is purchasing power?
Purchasing power is the amount of goods and services a unit of money, or a given income, can buy. It falls when prices rise, which is why inflation is described as eroding purchasing power, and comparisons between countries often adjust for it.
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