office equipment

Meaning

This term refers to the physical tools, machines, and furniture used in an office to help employees do their jobs. It includes items like printers, copiers, computers, desks, and shredders. It is a collective, uncountable noun when used in general contexts.

Examples

• The company spent five thousand dollars on new office equipment last month.

  The company spent five thousand dollars on new office equipment last month.

• If any office equipment breaks down, please report it to IT support immediately.

  If any office equipment breaks down, please report it to IT support immediately.

• We need to order some basic office equipment like a laminator and a paper shredder.

  We need to order some basic office equipment like a laminator and a paper shredder.

• All office equipment should be turned off before you leave the building at night.

  All office equipment should be turned off before you leave the building at night.

• Our department has a separate budget for maintaining the office equipment.

  Our department has a separate budget for maintaining the office equipment.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to buy some new office equipments.

  ✓ We need to buy some new office equipment.

  Equipment is an uncountable noun. Do not add an 's' to make it plural. Use 'pieces of equipment' if you need to count individual items.

• ✗ The desk is a very useful office machine.

  ✓ The desk is a very useful piece of office equipment.

  Machine only refers to mechanical or electronic devices. Equipment is a broader term that includes furniture like desks and chairs.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Who should I call if the ___ like the printer or copier stops working?

  💡 Physical machines and tools used in an office.

  Show answer

  office equipment

• Our budget for buying new ___ has been increased this year.

  💡 The collective term for desks, computers, and printers.

  Show answer

  office equipment