noun
Uncommon
shipment
SHIHP-muhnt
Shipment (noun) means a batch of goods sent together to a destination. Example: “The store received a large shipment of winter coats.”
noun
1
A batch of goods sent together to a destination.
"The store received a large shipment of winter coats."
"A shipment of fresh oranges arrived at the port this morning."
"The warehouse staff checked every box in the shipment before signing for it."
2
The act or process of transporting goods.
"Shipment of hazardous waste on this route is strictly prohibited."
"Shipment can take up to ten business days."
"Shipment of fragile items needs extra packaging to prevent damage."
"The company handles the shipment of goods to customers abroad."
How to use shipment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the goods being sent, or the sending itself.
Common pairings
track a shipment
delayed shipment
shipment of goods
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Word forms
- Plural
- shipments
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The store received a large _____ of winter coats.
Etymology
Formed from ship (the verb, "to send goods") plus the noun-forming suffix -ment.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for shipment
See all rhymes for shipment →Frequently asked questions
What does “shipment” mean?
The word “shipment” means a batch of goods sent together to a destination. In plain terms, either the goods being sent, or the sending itself.
How do you pronounce “shipment”?
“Shipment” is pronounced SHIHP-muhnt (/ˈʃɪpmənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “shipment” in a sentence?
Here is “shipment” used in a sentence: “The store received a large shipment of winter coats.”
What part of speech is “shipment”?
“Shipment” is a noun.
Is “shipment” a common word?
“Shipment” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “shipment” have?
“Shipment” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a batch of goods sent together to a destination.
What is the difference between a shipment and delivery?
A shipment refers to the batch of goods being sent, or the overall process of transporting them, while delivery specifically refers to the goods arriving at their final destination. A shipment can be in transit for days before delivery actually occurs.
Can "shipment" refer to a single item or must it be multiple items?
A shipment is usually a batch of goods sent together, though the term can apply even when the batch consists of a single large order. The key idea is goods being transported together to one destination as a unit.
Is "shipment" used only for physical goods or can it describe a process too?
"Shipment" covers both senses: it can mean the actual batch of goods sent together, or it can refer more broadly to the act or process of transporting goods, as in "tracking the shipment of the order."
