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supplier

supplier

204 2.7
A company or person that sells goods and services to businesses and people
  • noun
  • /səˈplaɪər/
translation icon : proveedor
  • Many small businesses depend on a trustworthy supplier for their inventory.
  • suppliers and customers
  • supplier of products
  • information from suppliers

Now Kuwait was a major oil supplier to the United States.

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Examples

  • There will be difficult negotiations between natural gas suppliers and consumers over new contract terms.

    Academic text (2011)
  • In three years, Cyberdyne will become the largest supplier of military computer systems.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Not every supplier is part of the program.

  • Are you happy with your current supplier?

  • Are you the new supplier?

  • You and I can talk to your suppliers tomorrow.

  • Now Kuwait was a major oil supplier to the United States.

  • Until recently, the federal government was the main supplier of smolts to the private sector.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Finally, businesses preferred to obtain their information from suppliers, publications, and other companies.

    Academic text (1999)
  • This came from a local supplier, Snake River Seed Cooperative.

Synonyms

contractor
vssupplier
354 3.9

A person or company hired to do work for others under an agreement

focuses more on supplying goods or services generally rather than contracted work
provider
vssupplier
282 2.9

A company or person that supplies services such as internet and electricity

is broader, covering all kinds of goods or services supplied to buyers
trader
vssupplier
279 2.1

A person or company that buys and sells things to make money

places emphasis on providing goods or services regardless of trade profit motive
vendor
vssupplier
257 2.0

A person or company that sells things, for example at a market

provides goods or services more broadly to businesses or customers
seller
vssupplier
257 1.0

A person or company that offers goods for money

emphasizes the broader act of supplying goods or services to buyers
merchant
vssupplier
203 2.1

A person or company that buys and sells goods, often in shops

focuses more on the role of supplying goods or services to various buyers
distributor
vssupplier
74 3.5

A company that supplies products to shops and businesses

is a more general source of goods or services for various buyers
purveyor
vssupplier
23 6.7

A person or company that supplies food to shops and restaurants

is more general, covering all types of goods or services beyond food
wholesaler
vssupplier
22 3.5

A person or company that buys goods in large amounts from makers and sells them to shops

includes supplying both businesses and final customers, not only bulk sales
middleman
vssupplier
14 3.4

A person or company that buys large amounts of goods and sells them to shops

is broader, including supplying both retailers and final customers alike
reseller
vssupplier
12 3.7

A person or business that buys goods to sell to others for profit

covers supplying directly to businesses or customers, not only resale operations
distro
vssupplier
  • Jargon
1 8.1

A company that buys goods from makers and sells them to shops

applies more widely to anyone providing goods or services to buyers
vender
vssupplier
  • US
1.6

A person or business that sells to customers

covers a wider role supplying businesses as well as individual customers
distributer
vssupplier
  • US
3.4

A company or person that supplies goods to shops and businesses

is a general provider to both businesses and end customers rather than just shops
disty
vssupplier
  • Jargon
9.1

A company that supplies goods to shops and other sellers

is the neutral term for supplying goods or services to various buyers
furnisher
vssupplier
4.4

A person or company that supplies goods and services to others

is the general term for providing goods or services to various customers
fulfiller
vssupplier
  • Specialized
4.8

A company that stores, packs, and ships products for online sellers

has a wider meaning as any party that provides goods or services

Antonyms

1.0

A person or company that buys from a business

300 3.7

A person or organization that gets something

How Large

manufacturer
477 3.1
wholesaler
22 3.5
distributor
74 3.5
supplier
204 2.7
seller
257 1.0
vendor
257 2.0

Surface Forms

supplier singular
suppliers plural

Morphology

supplier = supply (transparent) = supply + er

Standard agent noun formed from the verb 'supply' with '-er'; meaning 'one who supplies' is directly derivable.

Etymology

Supplier comes from the word supply, which goes back to the Latin parts sub- ('up to') and plere ('to fill'), the same root you see in plenty. So a supplier is someone who 'fills' your needs by giving goods or services.