Copy Citation
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
in·ven·to·ry
ˈin-vən-ˌtȯr-ē 
plural inventories
1
a
: an itemized list of current assets: such as
(1)
: a list of goods on hand
(2)
: a catalog of the property of an individual or estate
b
: a list of traits, preferences, attitudes, interests, or abilities used to evaluate personal characteristics or skills
c
: a survey of natural resources
2
: the quantity of goods or materials on hand : stock
3
: the act or process of taking an inventory
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun
We made an inventory of the library's collection.
The dealer keeps a large inventory of used cars and trucks.
Inventories at both stores were low.
How can a small business afford to keep so much inventory?
We'll be doing inventory on the collection soon.
Verb
We'll be inventorying the collection soon.
would you inventory the supplies in the back room?
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Liz Young, WSJ, 23 Feb. 2023
According to documents filed in bankruptcy court last week, drug store giant Walgreens will acquire Medly’s prescription files, pharmacy inventory and intellectual property, including its trademarks and logos.
—oregonlive, 16 Feb. 2023
But while high theft in stores depletes inventory and limits sales, locking up items also reduces sales – by 15% to 25%, according to Joe Budano, CEO of Indyme, a technology company that sells retailers security devices.
—Anne D'innocenzio, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2023
The scarcity of inventory and volatile mortgage rates are forcing would-be-buyers into savings hibernation to build up adequate savings.
—Rod Berger, Forbes, 5 Feb. 2023
Hollis sat down with The Dallas Morning News at this weekend’s National Automobile Dealers Association conference in Dallas to talk about ongoing supply chain issues, low inventory and car pricing.
—Dallas News, 28 Jan. 2023
Before joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Nikolas worked in the labs of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, working on projects ranging from chemical inventory and reporting to the development of bioassays.
—Nikolas Greenwald, Good Housekeeping, 24 Jan. 2023
In the final three months of 2022, nearly 16% of consumers who financed a new vehicle and 5.4% who financed a used one committed to monthly payments of at least $1,000, according to Edmunds, which tracks automotive inventory and information.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2023
That's right, the online Nike outlet was just restocked with tons of inventory and discounts up to 40 percent off.
—Ellen Mcalpine, Men's Health, 11 Jan. 2023
Jean Marbella, Baltimore Sun, 2 Feb. 2023
This isn’t the time to inventory and assess their misdeeds.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2023
This period of higher rates can also prompt you to inventory all of your outstanding debt, verify the interest rates on the debt, and prioritize what should get paid off first.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Dec. 2022
Researchers add molecular tags that will later work like barcodes, selectively binding to DNA to inventory and find particular sequences.
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2017
Or, potentially, inventory to use to address the other remaining need: A left fielder, perhaps via trade.
—Dallas News, 27 Dec. 2022
The vote resulted from a new state law requiring police and sheriff's departments to inventory military-grade equipment and seek approval for their use.
—Christine Fernando, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2022
But explicit authorization was required after a new California law went into effect this year requiring police and sheriffs departments to inventory military-grade equipment and seek approval for their use.
—CBS News, 29 Nov. 2022
He is required to move the property into a storage facility and inventory the items within five days of the relocation.
—Dana Feldman, Peoplemag, 30 Nov. 2022
See More
Noun
Target is one of several retailers using stores to fill orders to help manage inventory and the high costs of last-mile delivery.
—Liz Young, WSJ, 23 Feb. 2023
According to documents filed in bankruptcy court last week, drug store giant Walgreens will acquire Medly’s prescription files, pharmacy inventory and intellectual property, including its trademarks and logos.
—oregonlive, 16 Feb. 2023
But while high theft in stores depletes inventory and limits sales, locking up items also reduces sales – by 15% to 25%, according to Joe Budano, CEO of Indyme, a technology company that sells retailers security devices.
—Anne D'innocenzio, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2023
The scarcity of inventory and volatile mortgage rates are forcing would-be-buyers into savings hibernation to build up adequate savings.
—Rod Berger, Forbes, 5 Feb. 2023
Hollis sat down with The Dallas Morning News at this weekend’s National Automobile Dealers Association conference in Dallas to talk about ongoing supply chain issues, low inventory and car pricing.
—Dallas News, 28 Jan. 2023
Before joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Nikolas worked in the labs of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, working on projects ranging from chemical inventory and reporting to the development of bioassays.
—Nikolas Greenwald, Good Housekeeping, 24 Jan. 2023
In the final three months of 2022, nearly 16% of consumers who financed a new vehicle and 5.4% who financed a used one committed to monthly payments of at least $1,000, according to Edmunds, which tracks automotive inventory and information.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2023
That's right, the online Nike outlet was just restocked with tons of inventory and discounts up to 40 percent off.
—Ellen Mcalpine, Men's Health, 11 Jan. 2023
Verb
Now Murphy will be given access to the firm’s offices to inventory its files and take control of its bank accounts.
—Jean Marbella, Baltimore Sun, 2 Feb. 2023
This isn’t the time to inventory and assess their misdeeds.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2023
This period of higher rates can also prompt you to inventory all of your outstanding debt, verify the interest rates on the debt, and prioritize what should get paid off first.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Dec. 2022
Researchers add molecular tags that will later work like barcodes, selectively binding to DNA to inventory and find particular sequences.
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2017
Or, potentially, inventory to use to address the other remaining need: A left fielder, perhaps via trade.
—Dallas News, 27 Dec. 2022
The vote resulted from a new state law requiring police and sheriff's departments to inventory military-grade equipment and seek approval for their use.
—Christine Fernando, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2022
But explicit authorization was required after a new California law went into effect this year requiring police and sheriffs departments to inventory military-grade equipment and seek approval for their use.
—CBS News, 29 Nov. 2022
He is required to move the property into a storage facility and inventory the items within five days of the relocation.
—Dana Feldman, Peoplemag, 30 Nov. 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inventory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English inventarie, inventorie, from Anglo-French inventaire, inventorie, from Latin inventarium, from inventum thing found, topic, neuter of inventus
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1602, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of inventory was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing inventory
Dictionary Entries Near inventory
Cite this Entry
“Inventory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inventory. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
inventory
1 of 2 noun
in·ven·to·ry
ˈin-vən-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
plural inventories
1
: a complete list of items (as of goods on hand)
2
: the stock of goods on hand
3
: the act or process of making an inventory
inventory
2 of 2 verb
inventoried; inventorying
: to make an inventory of
Medical Definition
inventory
noun
in·ven·to·ry
ˈin-vən-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr-
plural inventories
1
: a questionnaire designed to provide an index of individual interests or personality traits
2
: a list of traits, preferences, attitudes, interests, or abilities that is used in evaluating personal characteristics or skills
Legal Definition
inventory
noun
in·ven·to·ry
ˈin-vən-ˌtōr-ē
plural inventories
1
: an itemized list of current assets: as
a
: a written list or catalog of the property of an individual, organization, or estate or succession that is made by a fiduciary under oath and that usually describes and assigns a value to the items or classes of property
b
: aggregate value assigned to an inventory
2
: goods or materials held on hand: as
a
under the Bankruptcy Code
: materials including personal property leased or furnished, held for sale or lease, or to be furnished under a contract for service, raw materials, work in process, or materials used or consumed in a business held for sale or lease
b
under section 9-109 of the Uniform Commercial Code
: goods that are leased by a person as lessor, that are held by a person for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service or are furnished under a contract of service, or that are raw materials, works in process, or materials used or consumed in a business
More from Merriam-Webster on inventory
Nglish: Translation of inventory for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of inventory for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about inventory
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Name That Flower
Can you tell the difference between a lilac and a...
Take the quiz
-
Are You Feeling Lucky?
A charming quiz about fortunate and unfortunate w...
Take the quiz
-
True or False?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something a...
Take the quiz
-
Spelling Bee Quiz
Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...
Take the quiz
Share