procurement

Everyday

1. (formal) The act of getting or buying something, especially goods for a company or government. tree →
2. (business) The department or job of buying things for a big organisation. tree →

In the lessons

An adult and business word: schools, hospitals and armies have «procurement» to buy books, beds or vehicles. In news: «defence procurement», «public procurement». Children meet it in adult talk about work. Phrases: «the procurement process», «procurement officer».

Examples

• Dad works in procurement for the hospital. tree →
• The procurement of new laptops for the school took months. tree →
• The council has rules for the procurement of school buses. tree →
• The army's procurement office ordered new boots. tree →
• Food procurement was hard during the long winter. tree →
• She is a procurement manager for a supermarket. tree →

Note

Formal; in everyday talk say «buying» or «getting». Verb «procure» (formal: to obtain). Usually uncountable.