item

American  

[ahy-tuhm, ahy-tem] / ˈaɪ təm, ˈaɪ tɛm /

noun

• items
  plural

1. a separate article or particular.

   50 items on the list.

   Synonyms:

   entry, heading, thing

2. a separate piece of information or news, as a short piece in a newspaper or broadcast.

3. Slang. something suitable for a news paragraph or as a topic of gossip, especially something that is sensational or scandalous.

   The bandleader and the new female singer are an item.

4. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter I.

5. an admonition or warning.

6. Older Use. an intimation or hint.

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adverb

1. also; likewise (used especially to introduce each article or statement in a list or series).

verb (used with object)

Archaic.

1. to set down or enter as an item, or by or in items.

2. to make a note of.

item British  

noun

1. a thing or unit, esp included in a list or collection

2. accounting an entry in an account

3. a piece of information, detail, or note

   a news item

4. informal two people having a romantic or sexual relationship

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verb

1. (tr) an archaic word for itemize

adverb

1. likewise; also

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subitem
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• items
  plural

Etymology

Origin of item

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “likewise” (adverb), “the same” (noun), from Latin: “likewise”

Explanation

An item is one thing, usually in a group or a list. At a restaurant, you might find yourself interested in a particular item on the menu (until you notice the price and decide to order a hamburger instead). Item is a Latin word meaning “likewise.” As early as the 15th century, this word was used in formal writing to introduce each point in a list (like a medieval version of the bullet point). The meaning of item has continued to evolve. Since the 1970s, it’s been used in casual speech to refer to a romantically involved couple: "Did you hear? Avery and Sam are an item!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

item items

One major item is Senate Bill 193, a last-minute effort to settle how California spends its Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund under the state’s recently renewed cap-and-invest program.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Ryonex is not exactly a hot search item, and I’ve come across plenty of other sloppypastas with similarly inscrutable figures, like a “techno” producer named Orivex whose “growing visibility” is defined by an A.I.

From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2026

They released a string of duets and toured together, leading fans to think they were an item.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

WRIGHT: We need to rebuild our menu and do so at the ingredient level, at the item level, at the menu-category level.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

He watched as the police official rummaged through the contents of the briefcase, examining each item.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

The company has since expanded massively, including into the delivery sector, particularly for food and retail items.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

Other items seek to help California defend itself from federal efforts to erode the state’s environmental authority.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Boat manufacturer Brunswick is counting on raising some prices to help boost its margins, a tricky move with budget-conscious consumers spending more cautiously on discretionary items.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

At The Petersfield School in Hampshire there is already a uniform policy of only four items with a logo.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

And the items tucked inside, what are they?

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• component
• element
• feature
• information
• piece
• thing