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

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1a