office supply

Meaning

This refers to the materials and equipment regularly used in offices by people who work there. It is often used as an adjective (like 'office supply store') or in its plural form 'office supplies' to talk about pens, paper, and staplers.

Examples

• I need to go to the office supply store to buy some printer paper.

  I need to go to the office supply store to buy some printer paper.

• Our office supply budget was reduced by ten percent this month.

  Our office supply budget was reduced by ten percent this month.

• Who is responsible for ordering new office supply items?

  Who is responsible for ordering new office supply items?

• The local office supply company delivers our orders every Tuesday.

  The local office supply company delivers our orders every Tuesday.

• We keep all the office supply extra stock in the cabinet near the reception.

  We keep all the office supply extra stock in the cabinet near the reception.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to buy some office providers.

  ✓ I need to buy some office supplies.

  'Provider' refers to a person or company that offers a service. Physical items like pens and paper are called 'supplies'.

• ✗ We need more office supports like pens and paper.

  ✓ We need more office supplies like pens and paper.

  'Support' means assistance or help. The physical consumables used in an office are called 'supplies'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Can you order more pens from the ___ company?

  💡 The type of business that sells stationery and paper.

  Show answer

  office supply

• We need to check our ___ inventory before making a new order.

  💡 Items like paper, pens, and folders.

  Show answer

  office supply