consignment
consignment — noun
1. a collection of products sent in one delivery to a specific person, shop, or oth
a collection of products sent in one delivery to a specific person, shop, or other business location
The bookshop received a large consignment of new novels from the publisher.
collocation: consignment of + goods
A consignment of spare parts arrived at the factory warehouse this morning.
Xiu checked the consignment note carefully before signing for the delivery.
Customs officers inspected the consignment for damaged or prohibited items.
The warehouse manager divided the consignment into smaller lots for each store.
- shipment
more common in everyday business language; 'consignment' often implies a formal or tracked delivery
- delivery
focuses on the act of bringing goods rather than the quantity sent
- cargo
used mainly for goods carried by ships, planes, or large vehicles, not small parcels
- load
informal; can refer to people or goods, and is less specific about formal shipping arrangements
文法句型
a consignment of + goods
consignment + noun
用法筆記
A countable noun — you can refer to 'a consignment' or 'consignments'. The pattern 'consignment of + goods' is the most common way to specify what the shipment contains.
常見錯誤
2. a business arrangement in which a supplier sends goods to a seller, and the sell
a business arrangement in which a supplier sends goods to a seller, and the seller only pays the supplier for items that are actually bought by customers, returning any unsold goods
The local bookstore took the magazines on consignment and returned the unsold copies.
phrase: took something on consignment
Amani agreed to sell her handmade jewellery on consignment at the gift shop.
Many small shops prefer to buy stock on consignment to avoid paying for unsold items.
Under the consignment agreement, the supplier kept ownership of the products until they were sold.
- sale or return
a similar arrangement used mainly in publishing and retail; more informal than 'on consignment'
文法句型
on consignment
take/give something on consignment
用法筆記
Only appears in the fixed phrase 'on consignment'. Never use 'in consignment' or 'under consignment'. The goods legally belong to the consignor (the supplier) until a customer buys them.
常見錯誤
❌ 'I bought this vase on consignment.' — This is ambiguous. If you bought it as a customer, say 'I bought this vase from a consignment shop.' The phrase 'on consignment' describes the arrangement between supplier and seller, not the customer's purchase.
consignment — adjective
1. describing goods that are supplied under an arrangement where the seller pays fo
describing goods that are supplied under an arrangement where the seller pays for them only after customers have bought them — for example, consignment stock held in a warehouse or items displayed in a consignment shop
Théo runs a consignment shop that sells second-hand furniture for local families.
compound noun: consignment shop
The company keeps a separate record of all consignment stock waiting to be sold.
compound noun: consignment stock
Camila opened a consignment store where local artists display their paintings.
Consignment goods remain the legal property of the supplier until a customer buys them.
文法句型
consignment + noun
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position). You cannot say 'These goods are consignment' — use 'These goods are on consignment' instead. Common noun partners: shop, store, stock, goods, agreement, fee.