consignment

[ kuhn-sahyn-muhnt ]

noun

1. the act of consigning.
2. something that is consigned.
3. Commerce. property sent to an agent for sale, storage, or shipment.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or shipped as goods on consignment:

   consignment selling of gift items.

consignment

/ kənˈsaɪnmənt /

noun

1. the act of consigning; commitment
2. a shipment of goods consigned
3. on consignment
   for payment by the consignee after sale

   he made the last shipment on consignment

Other Words From

• noncon·signment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of consignment¹

First recorded in 1555–65; consign + -ment

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on consignment, (of goods) sent to an agent for sale, with title being held by the consignor until a sale is made.

Example Sentences

Her job begins by collecting wholesale consignments from her anonymous paymasters, which she then weighs into smaller packages and hides around the city for their customers.

From Salon

The man behind a notorious consignment watch business in Beverly Hills has pleaded guilty and could face up to 20 years in prison, the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Last month, an Egyptian ship delivered a significant consignment of military equipment to Somalia.

From BBC

That summer, UK Border Force officials kept a close eye on the consignments of Ecuadorian bananas coming into Dover addressed to David Bilsland's business in Glasgow.

From BBC

The group had reportedly gone to the farm in search of edible food from consignments of recently expired or soon-to-be-expired produce.

From BBC

Related Words

• batch
• delivery
• goods
• shipment