procurement

[ proh-kyoor-muhnt, pruh‑ ]

noun

1. the act of procuring, or obtaining or getting by effort, care, or the use of special means:

   The organ procurement procedure is very complicated.

2. the act of obtaining equipment, materials, or supplies:

   The secretary of defense argued in favor of increasing the budget for procurement.

Other Words From

• nonpro·curement noun
• self-pro·curement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of procurement¹

First recorded in 1300–50; procure ( def ) + -ment ( def )

Example Sentences

They claim the opaque procurement procedures the government has used for infrastructure projects have enriched a few favoured contractors while putting public safety at risk.

From BBC

Energy Minister Opiyo Wandayi told a parliamentary committee on Thursday there was no bribery or corruption involved in the procurement of the power lines.

From BBC

The order for the two ferries has become one of the biggest public procurement disasters since power was devolved to Holyrood.

From BBC

The order suspended the VA’s extensive procurement requirements and ordered the agency to pick up the bill.

From Los Angeles Times

One insider told me, “the worst thing we could do is spend more and spend it badly … the number needs to go up but we absolutely need to get a proper grip of procurement.”

From BBC

Related Words

• acquisition

More About Procurement

What does procurement mean?

Procurement most commonly refers to the formal, official process of purchasing and obtaining materials, supplies, or equipment, especially in the context of business or government.

Many large companies and government agencies have a procurement department that handles the ordering and acquisition of supplies. Such a department is often simply referred to as procurement, as in You’ll have to ask procurement to order those materials. 

Procurement is the noun form of the verb procure. In general, procurement means the act of getting something, especially through special means or extra effort, as in The procurement of transplant organs is a complex process.

Example: If someone says they work in procurement, it means they spend a lot of time navigating the supply chain to get what their company needs.

Where does procurement come from?

The first records of procurement come from the 1300s. The verb procure is recorded earlier and comes from the Latin prōcūrāre, meaning “to take care of” or “to look after.” This is formed from the Latin verb cūrāre, “to care for.” The English verb curate is based on a related root.

Procurement can simply refer to the act of acquiring something, as in The procurement of this replacement part for the refrigerator was no easy task. But it’s often used to refer to a formal, official process used by companies and other organizations to get the supplies they need. People who work in this field are said to work in procurement, and such a department is often referred to as simply procurement, as in Jim in procurement said that order will take at least two weeks. 

Governments often have special departments and laws for procurement, usually with very strict procedures for how purchases can be made and things can be acquired. These rules are intended to ensure that the process doesn’t become corrupted by bribes, kickbacks, and favoritism.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to procurement?

• nonprocurement (noun)
• self-procurement (noun)

What are some synonyms for procurement?

• acquisition
• attainment

What are some words that share a root or word element with procurement? 

 

• curate

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing procurement?

 

• purchasing
• acquire
• department
• public
• military
• federal
• policy
• state
• government

How is procurement used in real life?

Procurement can be used generally, but it’s most commonly used in the context of a specific business or government agency.

Discover key findings from our survey of over 4,000 people working in procurement. Request the guide today https://t.co/xKqHrleKWJ pic.twitter.com/BnlVhn5cA0

— Hays UK (@HaysNews) April 13, 2017

Paula Davies works in procurement and is winning the Award for her relentless focus on reducing costs whilst maintaining quality #sathboard

— SaTH (@sathNHS) September 25, 2014

Everyday 12 people die waiting for a kidney transplant. Improving organ procurement and increasing living donation saves lives. Join the fight. Become a member of the National Kidney Foundation @nkf @NKF_NephPros

— Holly Kramer, MD, MPH (@kramer_holly) December 29, 2019

 

 

Try using procurement!

Which of the following tasks would be a responsibility of someone who works in procurement?

A. purchasing
B. ordering
C. requesting quotes
D. all of the above