Backorder
An order for a product that is currently out of stock and will be fulfilled when inventory is replenished.
Full Definition
A backorder represents a customer demand that cannot be immediately met due to insufficient inventory, but for which the order is retained rather than cancelled. It signals a gap between supply and demand and is tracked as a key service-level metric. 'Backorder' is one word (not 'back order' or 'back-order') in standard supply chain usage, though hyphenated and two-word forms appear in older texts. Editors should not confuse it with 'stockout' (the inventory condition that causes the backorder) or 'cancelled order' (where the demand is not retained).
Usage
Usage note: One word, preferred over 'back-order' or 'back order'. Not synonymous with 'stockout'; a stockout is the cause, a backorder is the resulting unmet order.
In Context
- "Customers were notified that their orders were on backorder due to the factory shutdown." — Customer service communication
- "Use 'backorder' as one word; older variants 'back-order' and 'back order' should be standardised on revision." — Document standardisation note