inventory

1 of 2

noun

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

4

: survey, summary

inventorial

ˌin-vən-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

inventorially

ˌin-vən-ˈtȯr-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

inventory

2 of 2

verb

inventoried; inventorying

transitive verb

: to make an inventory of : catalog

Synonyms

Noun

• supply
• repertoire
• pool
• stock

Verb

• list

Examples of inventory in a Sentence

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?

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This accompanied offsetting changes in wholesale and retail inventories, which saw the former decrease by .3 percent while the latter increased at the same rate. —Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025

However, if firms need to absorb some of the cost to keep customers, Bowley said, reducing inventories, operations, or headcount are other potential options. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 June 2025

Verb

Archaeologists plan to inventory the tile fragments, reconstruct as many as possible and continue studying the finds. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025

Describing and inventorying the current state would naturally be part of that. —Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

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

Phrases Containing inventory

• personality inventory

Rhymes for inventory

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• category
• clerestory
• crematory
• desultory
• dilatory
• dormitory
• excretory
• extempore
• feudatory

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