consignor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Legal, Logistics
Quick answer
What does “consignor” mean?
A person or company that sends goods to someone, typically for sale, under a consignment agreement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or company that sends goods to someone, typically for sale, under a consignment agreement.
The party who entrusts merchandise to a carrier or agent for transportation, storage, or sale, retaining ownership until the goods are delivered or sold. Can refer to the sender in any formal shipping context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling is consistent. In formal shipping documents, 'shipper' is more common in general US freight contexts, while 'consignor' is used when emphasising the consignment agreement.
Connotations
Neutral legal/business term in both dialects.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; high frequency in logistics, law, and business documentation. Slightly more common in British English legal and auction-house contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “consignor” in a Sentence
The consignor [verbs: ships, sends, despatches, entrusts] goods to the consignee.Goods are supplied by the consignor.The contract is between the consignor and the carrier.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Key term in contracts of carriage, bills of lading, and inventory management for goods-on-consignment models.
Academic
Used in papers on supply chain management, contract law, and international trade logistics.
Everyday
Rarely used; replaced by 'sender' or 'the person/company sending it'.
Technical
Precise legal designation in transport law (e.g., CMR Convention, Hague-Visby Rules).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “consignor”
- Using 'consignor' to mean the carrier or transport company.
- Confusing 'consignor' with 'consignee'.
- Misspelling as 'consigner' (an accepted but less common variant, especially in legal contexts).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. A consignor is a seller only if ownership transfers at the time of consignment. Often, a consignor retains ownership until the goods are sold by the consignee (e.g., in an art gallery or boutique).
'Shipper' is a broader term for anyone who sends goods via a carrier. 'Consignor' is more specific, implying a formal consignment agreement where the sender retains ownership and risk for a period. All consignors are shippers in that shipment, but not all shippers are consignors.
Yes. Individuals often act as consignors when selling items through auction houses, online consignment platforms, or vintage shops.
The consignment note (or bill of lading in sea freight) is the key document. It is issued by the carrier and signed by the consignor, detailing the goods, parties, and terms.
A person or company that sends goods to someone, typically for sale, under a consignment agreement.
Consignor is usually formal, business, legal, logistics in register.
Consignor: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈsaɪnə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈsaɪnər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The buck stops with the consignor (informal business).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A CONSIGNOR SENDS goods ON a consignment. Think: 'The SIGNOR (Italian for gentleman) is the boss who sends the shipment.'
Conceptual Metaphor
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS AS LEGAL ROLES (a fixed position in a transactional framework).
Practice
Quiz
In a standard bill of lading, which party is typically named as the 'consignor'?