back-order

verb

back-or·der | \ ˈbak-ˌȯr-dər

back-ordered; back-ordering; back-orders

Definition of back-order

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

: to assign to the status of back order

back order

noun

Definition of back order (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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: Noun

The vendor at a booth selling a steel barricade lock for classrooms said sales are so high that the item is on back order. — Alexia Fernández Campbell, Vox, "I went to a huge conference on school safety. No one wanted to talk about gun control.," 30 July 2018 But now, even those local anesthetics — lidocaine, ropivacaine and bupivacaine — are in short supply due to manufacturing problems and back orders, according to doctors and federal regulators. — Pauline Bartolone, Washington Post, "Safety Violations Compound Pain Of Painkiller Shortages," 16 Apr. 2018 But now, even those local anesthetics — lidocaine, ropivacaine and bupivacaine — are in short supply due to manufacturing problems and back orders, according to doctors and federal regulators. — Pauline Bartolone, Washington Post, "Safety Violations Compound Pain Of Painkiller Shortages," 16 Apr. 2018 But now, even those local anesthetics — lidocaine, ropivacaine and bupivacaine — are in short supply due to manufacturing problems and back orders, according to doctors and federal regulators. — Pauline Bartolone, Washington Post, "Safety Violations Compound Pain Of Painkiller Shortages," 16 Apr. 2018 Below is a partial list of vehicles with airbag components still on back order. — Ron Hurtibise, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Despite danger, airbag parts still on back order for some car models," 18 June 2018 But now, even those local anesthetics — lidocaine, ropivacaine and bupivacaine — are in short supply due to manufacturing problems and back orders, according to doctors and federal regulators. — Pauline Bartolone, Washington Post, "Safety Violations Compound Pain Of Painkiller Shortages," 16 Apr. 2018 But now, even those local anesthetics — lidocaine, ropivacaine and bupivacaine — are in short supply due to manufacturing problems and back orders, according to doctors and federal regulators. — Pauline Bartolone, Washington Post, "Safety Violations Compound Pain Of Painkiller Shortages," 16 Apr. 2018 Typically, no-hitters tend to feature a dynamic defensive play somewhere along the way, and this game had two fantastic ones in back-to-back order. — Bob Mcmanaman, azcentral, "Astros' Gerrit Cole flirts with no-hitter, pitches a gem in rout of Diamondbacks," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'back-order.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

23 May 2019

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The first known use of back-order was in 1887

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More Definitions for back-order

back order

noun

Financial Definition of back order

What It Is

A back order is an order that cannot be filled in the usual time expected.

How It Works

John Doe purchases 10 tractors from a tractor dealer. The retailer has four on hand to ship; it has to wait for the factory to make the rest, which could take three or four months. The six missing tractors are back orders, and John Doe will receive them later.

Why It Matters

Many companies cannot easily predict how products will move. Though back orders can be an occasional side-effect of just-in-time inventory and other efforts at efficient operations, back orders are usually not great for customer relations -- particularly during the holidays or for products that are "hot." Some companies measure their back order activity as part of their efforts to analyze inventory and purchasing. After all, a back order might indicate that a company has a hot product, but too many back orders can send customers into the arms of competitors.

Source: Investing Answers

back order

noun