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

“From the outset of the investigation, we have been in close contact with our suppliers to determine whether any ingredients in our supply chain have been identified as part of the investigation,” the chain said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026

Tennessee’s central location and well-connected infrastructure support supply chain logistics.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026

Their analysis of the supply chain suggests that Indian suppliers will be structurally capped at a 25% to 30% share of the global market for first-generation GLP-1s, facing delivery pen and fill/finish supply constraints.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

"The affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states," the company added.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

They set up camps all along the west coast of Greece to create a supply chain heading south.

From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby