backlog

[bak-lawg, -log]

noun

1. a reserve or accumulation, as of stock, work, or business.

   a backlog of business orders.

   Synonyms: reservoir, cache, fund, store, stock, supply

2. a large log at the back of a hearth to keep up a fire.

verb (used with object)

backlogged, backlogging 

1. to hold in reserve, as for future handling or repair.

2. to enter and acknowledge (an order) for future shipment.

verb (used without object)

backlogged, backlogging 

1. to accumulate in a backlog.

   Orders are starting to backlog faster than we can process them.

backlog

/ ˈbækˌlɒɡ /

noun

1. an accumulation of uncompleted work, unsold stock, etc, to be dealt with

2. a large log at the back of a fireplace

Word History and Origins

Origin of backlog¹

First recorded in 1675–85; back ¹ + log ¹

Example Sentences

Decreases in new orders and order backlogs—two of the four demand indicators—more than offset gains posted by the indexes charting new export orders and customer inventories, Spence said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Contractors working on data centers have an average backlog of 10.9 months of work, compared with eight months for their peers, according to data from ABC.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Figures on the backlog of people waiting for an initial decision on an asylum application include both applicants and dependants.

Read more on BBC

The backlog of those waiting for a first decision has been declining steadily across the year, but there has been a growing backlog of appeals.

Read more on BBC

The drop in November was driven largely by a fall in order backlogs, which hit their lowest level since March 2009.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• inventory 
• stockpile