Meaning & use
delay in delivery
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
A situation in which goods arrive later than planned or promised.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase: 'a delay in delivery' or 'delays in delivery'. It often follows 'there is' or 'experience'.
Patterns
- a delay in delivery
- delays in delivery
- experience a delay in delivery
The company apologized for the delay in delivery of the new furniture.
Customers were frustrated by repeated delays in delivery during the holiday season.
If there is a delay in delivery, we will notify you by email.
Common combinations
- cause a delay in delivery
- Heavy snow caused a delay in delivery for many online orders.
- a slight delay in delivery
- There was a slight delay in delivery, but the package arrived the next day.
- a significant delay in delivery
- The strike led to a significant delay in delivery of medical supplies.
- due to a delay in delivery
- Due to a delay in delivery, the event had to be postponed.
Synonyms and how they differ
- late delivery
- Focuses on the lateness itself, while 'delay in delivery' emphasizes the interruption or waiting period.
- shipping delay
- Often used for the transport stage specifically, whereas 'delay in delivery' can cover the whole process until arrival.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: delay in delivery or delivery delay?
delay in delivery vs delivery delay
This is a noun compound meaning the same thing, but it is less formal and more common in casual writing.
Practice
Choose the best completion: 'The online store warned customers about a delay ___ delivery during the sale.'
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'delay in delivery', so 'in' is correct. 'On' is used for other kinds of delay (e.g., 'delay on the road'), but not in this business phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “delay in delivery”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.