Inventory: meaning, definitions and examples

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inventory

 

[ หˆษชnvษ™ntษ™ri ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

business

A complete list of items such as property, goods in stock, or the contents of a building.

Synonyms

catalogue, stock, supply.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
inventory

Use 'inventory' when referring to a detailed list of all the items a business has in stock, especially for accounting or management purposes.

  • The annual inventory took a whole week to complete
  • We need to update our inventory records
stock

Use 'stock' to describe the total quantity of goods or materials available for sale or use at any given time in a store, warehouse, or business.

  • We need to check our stock levels before placing a new order
  • The store has a wide variety of products in stock
supply

Use 'supply' when referring to the amount of a particular product or resource that is available for use or delivery, often used in the context of availability or shortage.

  • Our water supply has been running low during the drought
  • The medical supply for the hospital is expected tomorrow
catalogue

Use 'catalogue' when referring to a systematic list of items, often with descriptions, used especially for products, library items, or museum exhibits.

  • The company released a new product catalogue
  • The library's catalogue includes thousands of titles

Examples of usage

  • The company takes inventory of all the products in the warehouse.
  • We need to update the inventory list before the end of the month.
Context #2 | Noun

games

A detailed list of all the items or equipment a player character carries.

Synonyms

baggage, equipment list.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
inventory

Use this term when referring to a detailed list of items, typically in a business or store context. It's often used to track products, supplies, or materials.

  • The store manager asked me to update the inventory before the end of the month.
  • We need to take inventory of all office supplies.
equipment list

Use this phrase when referring to a specific list that details various pieces of equipment required for a particular task or activity, such as sports, camping, or a construction project.

  • Before heading to the campsite, double-check the equipment list to ensure we have everything we need.
  • The contractor provided an equipment list for the upcoming renovation.
baggage

Use this term when referring to bags, suitcases, and other items that a person carries while traveling. This word can also have a negative connotation when used metaphorically to describe emotional issues from the past.

  • Please make sure your baggage does not exceed the weight limit at the airport.
  • He has a lot of emotional baggage from his previous relationships.

Examples of usage

  • Make sure to check your inventory before entering the next level.
  • His inventory was full, so he had to sell some items.
Context #3 | Verb

business

To make a complete list of items such as property, goods in stock, or the contents of a building.

Synonyms

catalogue, document, record.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
inventory

Used when keeping a list of items or goods, often in a business or store setting.

  • The store manager completed the inventory before placing new orders
  • They need to take an inventory of all the products in the warehouse
catalogue

Used to describe a detailed list of items, often with descriptions and organized in a specific order, commonly for books, products, or collections.

  • The library's catalogue contains thousands of books
  • The company published a new catalogue of their fall collection
document

Used to refer to a piece of written, printed, or electronic matter that provides information or evidence; more general and can be any formal or official piece of paper.

  • She had to file an important document for her job
  • The contract was a long, detailed document
record

Used to refer to written information or data that has been kept about events, transactions, or activities; often implies regular or systematic collection of information.

  • The hospital keeps detailed medical records for every patient
  • He holds the record for the most goals scored in a season

Examples of usage

  • We need to inventory the office supplies by the end of the week.
  • The team inventoried all the equipment in the storage room.

Translations

Translations of the word "inventory" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น inventรกrio

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเฅ‚เคšเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Inventar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ inventaris

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั–ะฝะฒะตะฝั‚ะฐั€

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ inwentarz

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅœจๅบซ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท inventaire

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ inventario

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท envanter

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์žฌ๊ณ 

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงู„ุฌุฑุฏ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ inventรกล™

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ inventรกr

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅบ“ๅญ˜

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ inventar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ birgรฐir

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะธะฝะฒะตะฝั‚ะฐั€ัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ˜แƒœแƒ•แƒ”แƒœแƒขแƒแƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ inventar

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ inventario

Etymology

The word 'inventory' originated from the Latin word 'inventarium', which means a list of what is found. It has been used in English since the mid-15th century. The concept of keeping an inventory has been crucial in business and trade, ensuring accurate records of goods and supplies. Over time, the term has also been adopted in various fields such as gaming to refer to a list of items or equipment. Today, 'inventory' remains a key term in managing and organizing resources.

See also: invented, invention, inventions, inventive, inventively, inventiveness, inventor, inventors, reinvent, reinvention.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,528, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.