Purchase order

How it is used

Usually shortened to PO, said as 'P-O'. You raise, issue, send or place a PO; the supplier acknowledges or confirms it. Once accepted, it works as a contract, and its number appears on invoices and delivery notes.

Example sentences

1. Please quote the purchase order number on your invoice, otherwise we can't process the payment.

2. I raised a purchase order for 500 cartons this morning.

Common collocations

• raise a purchase order
• issue a PO
• PO number
• confirm a purchase order
• open purchase orders

Related terms

• supplierA company or person that provides goods, materials or services to another business, usually at an agreed price and on agreed delivery terms.
• quotationA written statement from a supplier or carrier giving the price it will charge for specific goods or services, usually valid for a limited time.
• procurementThe process of finding, choosing and buying the goods and services a company needs, including negotiating with suppliers and managing contracts.
• buyerA person whose job is to buy goods or services for a company, or more generally the party that purchases the goods in a sale.
• commercial invoiceThe seller's bill to the buyer for goods sold internationally, showing the goods, quantities, prices, currency and terms of sale; customs uses it to work out duties.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• purchase order · International Trade
• purchase order · Accounting & Tax
• purchase order · Office & Administration

More terms: Procurement and Purchasing

• RFQ
• MOQ
• expedite
• sourcing
• tender