sundries: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Business
Quick answer
What does “sundries” mean?
Various small or miscellaneous items not individually named.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Various small or miscellaneous items not individually named.
A category for assorted, often inexpensive, items that are considered collectively because they are too numerous or insignificant to list separately.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the term in similar contexts (e.g., bills, receipts, shops).
Connotations
Slightly bureaucratic or old-fashioned connotation in both varieties, associated with formal lists and accounts.
Frequency
Low frequency in general speech; slightly more common in formal writing and business contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sundries” in a Sentence
<Verb + sundries>: purchase sundries, charge for sundries, list (as) sundries, include (under) sundriesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sundries” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The bill included sundry small charges for refreshments.
American English
- The report cited sundry reasons for the project's delay.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in accounting to group small, infrequent expenses (e.g., 'Postage and sundries').
Academic
Rare, except in historical or descriptive texts about commerce.
Everyday
Rare; might be used humorously or in specific contexts like a hardware or stationery shop.
Technical
Used in retail, logistics, and accounting to categorize non-standard stock or costs.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sundries”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sundries”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sundries”
- Using 'sundries' as a singular noun (e.g., 'a sundry').
- Misspelling as 'sunderies'.
- Using it in informal conversation where 'stuff' or 'things' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a plural noun and is treated as such (e.g., 'These sundries are...'). There is no common singular form in modern usage.
As an adjective meaning 'various', yes, but it is somewhat formal or literary (e.g., 'for sundry reasons'). It is rarely used alone as a noun; the plural 'sundries' is standard for the 'miscellaneous items' meaning.
They are synonyms, but 'sundries' is more commonly used in commercial/accounting contexts, while 'miscellany' can be used more broadly for any mixed collection, often of written works or information.
No, it is a low-frequency word primarily found in specific formal or business contexts. It is not common in everyday conversation.
Various small or miscellaneous items not individually named.
Sundries is usually formal / business in register.
Sundries: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌndriz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌndriz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All and sundry (a related but distinct idiom meaning 'everyone, without distinction').”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a Sunday market stall selling a SUNDRY assortment of items, not just one thing.
Conceptual Metaphor
A COLLECTION IS A CATCH-ALL (a container for diverse, unnamed things).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'sundries' most appropriately used?