logistics
🇬🇧 /ləˈdʒɪstɪks/
🇺🇸 /ləˈdʒɪstɪks/
📖 Definitions
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noun
The detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation, especially the management of the flow of goods, services, and information.; The branch of military science dealing with the procurement, maintenance, and transportation of military matériel, facilities, and personnel.; The commercial activity of transporting goods from producers to consumers, including warehousing, inventory management, and distribution.
🔗 Details
Word forms
uncountable
Collocations
logistics managementsupply chain logisticslogistics planninglogistics supportreverse logisticslogistics chain
Derivatives
logisticlogisticallogisticallylogistician
Synonyms
coordinationorganizationmanagementplanningdistribution
Commonly confused
logistic
EN: 'Logistic' is an adjective (e.g., logistic support); 'logistics' is the noun referring to the overall discipline or activity.
logistical
EN: 'Logistical' is the more common adjective form in everyday usage, while 'logistic' is preferred in formal/military contexts.
Spelling tips
EN: Despite ending in -s, 'logistics' is treated as a singular noun (like 'physics' or 'economics'): use 'logistics is' rather than 'logistics are' in formal writing.
💬 Examples
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The logistics of delivering aid to the disaster zone were extremely challenging.
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The general emphasized that logistics win wars, not just tactics.
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The company outsourced its logistics to a third-party provider to reduce costs.