supply chain

American  

[suh-plahy cheyn] / səˈplaɪ ˌtʃeɪn /

noun

• supply chains
  plural

1. the series of growers, manufacturers, distributors, shippers, etc., involved in producing goods of a particular kind and bringing them to market.

   A typical supply chain from fiber to garment has up to seven players spread across the globe—more, if processes like dyeing or printing are subcontracted.

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supply chain British  

noun

1. marketing a channel of distribution beginning with the supplier of materials or components, extending through a manufacturing process to the distributor and retailer, and ultimately to the consumer

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• supply chains
  plural

Etymology

Origin of supply chain

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

supply chain

Anthropic’s Mythos, they discovered, was in the midst of what is known as a supply chain attack.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Extreme weather creates a knock-on effect on all parts of the supply chain, and the British Retail Consortium is warning that could force prices up.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Ortberg told analysts last week he did not foresee problems with Boeing's supply chain in lifting monthly MAX production to 52 jets.

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

For others with China as part of their supply chain, investment has been a bust.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

This all-American show is being produced by an all-world supply chain.

From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman