office supply

noun

plural office supplies

1

a

: a physical resource (such as a writing implement, fastener, folder, paper, ink, etc.) that is needed for working in an office

—usually plural

All these jobs, as I see them, would require a full complement of office supplies: every conceivable kind of clip and clasp, name-brand ball-point pens, … bottles of correction fluid, ammo-like refills for various desktop mechanisms, and cool, smooth, hard pads of narrow-lined paper.

—David Owen

[Arthur] Fry, who came up with the idea …, says his life has changed little despite the success of Post-its, which are a best-seller among office supplies.

—Rahul Jacob

ODP sells office supplies; office furniture; technology products and services; cleaning, breakroom and facilities products; business machines and related supplies; and personal protective equipment at more than 800 Office Depot and OfficeMax stores and online.

—David Elman

—usually singular before another noun

an office supply store/business/dealer

b

: a business that sells office supplies

Main Street Office Supply

2

: the amount of commercial real estate available for use as office space in a particular area

Office transactions in Manhattan have slowed dramatically as remote work and cost-cutting measures reduce demand for space. Nearly a fifth of the city's office supply is available for rent …

—Natalie Wong

Examples of office supply in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Build One Master File Setting up a single organizational hub (even a basic accordion folder from the office supply store, paired with a Google Drive folder) may help families keep important paperwork organized during a difficult period. — William Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026

It was boosted not by electronics or fashion but by office supplies and books — categories driven by practical need. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 June 2026

The retailer also offers office supplies like notebooks and staplers. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2026

For nonfood uses, ice cube trays make great jewelry, office supply and craft organizers. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026

Our expert take The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a no-annual-fee cash-back business card that's especially rewarding at office supply stores and gas stations. — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 12 June 2026

The purchases, most of which were itemized on city records as office supplies, included gifts and decorations for family birthday parties, women’s, men’s and children’s clothing; $19,000 in groceries, children’s toys, cosmetics, bed linens, tablecloths and home decorations. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026

An office supply store is closing a location in the Kansas City area. — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026

Pegboard Wall Storage Pegboard storage systems can be used for tools in garages and sheds, office supplies, or in the kitchen, especially on walls that would otherwise go unused, Evelina Juzenaite, the principal interior designer at Planner 5D, says. — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 2 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for office supply

• canaliculi
• dwi
• micronuclei
• oversimplify
• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli