broken lot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Specialized/Business
Quick answer
What does “broken lot” mean?
A collection of items that is incomplete or not in full sets.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A collection of items that is incomplete or not in full sets; merchandise sold individually rather than in standard packaged units.
A batch of goods where some items are missing, damaged, or non-conforming, often sold at a discount; in stock trading, an odd lot (a quantity of shares less than the standard trading unit).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is more firmly established in wholesale/retail jargon in the UK. In US business contexts, 'odd lot' is more common for securities, while 'broken lot' emphasizes physical goods.
Connotations
UK: Strong association with end-of-line retail clearance. US: Slightly stronger association with damaged/returned goods in logistics.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language; moderate in specific business/retail contexts. Slightly higher profile in UK trade publications.
Grammar
How to Use “broken lot” in a Sentence
[NP] sold as a broken lot[NP] purchased in a broken lota broken lot of [NP]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “broken lot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The supplier agreed to broken-lot the remaining discontinued lines.
- We often broken-lot end-of-season stock.
American English
- The warehouse will broken-lot the returned merchandise.
- They decided to broken-lot the damaged pallets.
adverb
British English
- The tools were sold broken lot, at a significant discount.
- It's cheaper if you buy it broken lot.
American English
- The parts are available broken lot from the distributor.
- They auctioned the inventory broken lot.
adjective
British English
- It was a broken-lot purchase, so a few components were missing.
- They specialise in broken-lot clearance sales.
American English
- We acquired it as a broken-lot item from a liquidator.
- The broken-lot goods were sold as-is.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in procurement, warehousing, and retail to describe discounted, incomplete, or damaged batches of goods.
Academic
Rare; might appear in case studies in business or supply chain management.
Everyday
Very rare. A consumer might encounter it in a specialist discount store or online auction description.
Technical
Used in inventory management systems and logistics to flag non-standard stock units.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “broken lot”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “broken lot”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “broken lot”
- Using 'broken lot' to describe a single broken item (it refers to a collection).
- Confusing it with 'lot' meaning 'a large amount' in everyday speech (e.g., 'a lot of trouble').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Damaged goods' focuses on condition. A 'broken lot' focuses on the set being incomplete or non-standard; items within it may or may not be damaged.
No. By definition, a 'lot' is a collection or batch. The term requires multiple items, though the collection itself is incomplete or irregular.
No, it is a specialized term used primarily in business, retail, wholesale, and inventory management contexts. The average speaker may not be familiar with it.
The opposite would be a 'full case', 'sealed unit', 'complete set', or 'standard pack'—meaning merchandise in its original, intact, and complete packaging or quantity.
A collection of items that is incomplete or not in full sets.
Broken lot is usually specialized/business in register.
Broken lot: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrəʊ.kən ˈlɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbroʊ.kən ˈlɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a toy box where some pieces are 'broken' or missing—it's not a complete set, just a 'broken lot' of parts.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLETENESS IS WHOLENESS / A BROKEN LOT IS A DAMAGED OR INCOMPLETE COLLECTION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'broken lot' MOST likely to be used correctly?