supply chain

American  

[suh-plahy cheyn] / səˈplaɪ ˌtʃeɪn /

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of supply chain

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Loans to sectors vulnerable to supply chain disruptions account for 18.3% of total lending, while loan loss coverage remains above 100% for most banks, providing a buffer against rising credit costs, she reckons.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

On the surface, it may not seem like a premium toilet maker seeking “the perfect flush” has much to offer the artificial-intelligence supply chain.

From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026

Investment implications: Higher ethanol demand could support corn prices, benefiting crop processors like Archer Daniels Midland and companies tied to the biofuel supply chain, including ethanol producers such as Green Plains and REX American Resources.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

He covered the ways goods are moved around the country and to people’s doorsteps, and how evolving shopping patterns are affecting the global supply chain.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Infosys, he said, can hold a virtual meeting of the key players from its entire global supply chain for any project at any time on that supersize screen.

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