backorder

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountablebusiness

   An order for goods that cannot be supplied right now because they are out of stock and will be sent later.

   Grammar: Often in on backorder: the sofa is on backorder.

   Patterns

   • on backorder
   • place something on backorder

   The printer is on backorder until March.

   Several of the items in my order are still on backorder.

   Our backorders have grown because of delays at the port.

2. 2verbtransitivebusiness

   To place or accept an order for goods that are currently out of stock and will be delivered later.

   Grammar: Takes an object: the shop backordered the chairs.

   Patterns

   • backorder something
   • something is backordered

   The store backordered the coats and promised delivery in two weeks.

   Customers can backorder the item and pay when it ships.

Word forms

Common combinations

on backorder

The part is on backorder for six weeks.

place on backorder

We had to place the order on backorder.

backorder an item

You can backorder an item and be notified when it arrives.

backorder status

Check the backorder status online.

Synonyms and how they differ

pre-order

A pre-order is for goods not released yet, whereas a backorder is for goods that normally exist but are temporarily out of stock.

out of stock

Out of stock simply says there are none, but backorder promises later delivery.

special order

Special order is for items not normally kept in stock, while backorder is for those usually kept.

Opposites

Word family

order noun

a request for goods

backlog noun

a pile of work or orders not yet dealt with

backordered adjective

temporarily unavailable and awaiting delivery

Commonly confused: backorder or pre-order?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “backorder”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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