back-or·der
ˈbak-ˌȯr-dər 
back-ordered; back-ordering; back-orders
: to assign to the status of back order
: a business order yet to be fulfilled because stock is unavailable
Examples of back-order in a Sentence
Noun
The book I want to buy is a back order and won't be shipped for three weeks.
The book I want to buy is on back order and won't be shipped for three weeks.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 June 2025
The back-order list for Yohei Fukuda’s shoes is so long, the atelier has stopped accepting bespoke-shoe orders from new clients.
—Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
With the original 13-episode order nearing completion and the network pleased with output so far, a back order decision was made to keep the show in continuous production.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back-order
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Verb
Construction delays and material back-orders pushed that to 2025, but as of May 21, there was a lot of work left to do.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 June 2025
The back-order list for Yohei Fukuda’s shoes is so long, the atelier has stopped accepting bespoke-shoe orders from new clients.
—Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
Noun
In an online statement shared Thursday (Oct. 16), the Monterey Bay Aquarium revealed that so many Swifties had purchased one of the shirts online, the clothing item is now on back order.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
With the original 13-episode order nearing completion and the network pleased with output so far, a back order decision was made to keep the show in continuous production.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back-order
Cite this Entry
“Back-order.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back-order. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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