on order
on order — phrase
1. already requested from a supplier or seller and expected to arrive later, but no
already requested from a supplier or seller and expected to arrive later, but not available yet
The spare parts are on order and should reach the garage Friday.
be on order = ordered but not arrived
Romi's new glasses are on order, so she is using a backup pair.
The bookstore told Aarav the dictionary was on order from Singapore.
on order from a supplier
Two replacement windows are on order after the storm damaged the kitchen.
Our dentist's chair is on order, so appointments start next month.
item status before delivery
- currently on order
- have a sofa on order
- parts on order
- ordered
is more general; on order stresses that the item has not arrived yet
- back-ordered
usually suggests the item is unavailable and a customer is already waiting for new stock
- pending delivery
is more formal and common in records or shipping updates
- in stock
available now rather than still awaited
Grammar Patterns
be on order
have + item + on order
Usage Note
Usually follows be or appears after have. The subject is the item itself, not the buyer, and the phrase often implies that delivery is still pending.
Common Mistakes
Etymology
This phrase is built from the ordinary English words on and order. In retail and business use, it came to label goods that someone has already asked to buy or supply, but that have not arrived yet.