supply chain

American  

[suh-plahy chayn] / 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

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Etymology

Origin of supply chain

First recorded in 1900–05

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

supply chain

DoorDash’s capital expenditures last year were about 4% of what Walmart U.S. spent on supply chain, customer-facing initiatives and technology.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 8, 2026

He suspects GE Aerospace's recent move is about securing reliability and predictability in the notoriously volatile aircraft manufacturing supply chain.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

The attacks in recent days, for which no one has claimed responsibility, have prompted the EU to warn of a deliberate attempt to disrupt its food supply chain.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

There are also constraints throughout its supply chain, the company noted, including for chip wafers and packaging substrates — an essential component for its advanced chip-packaging technology that is gaining appeal with customers.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

He’d invited his managers and their families over for a party this one time and my dad, being the supply chain guy, said we had to go.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

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