purchasing

Etymology

verb

1. present participle and gerund of purchase

noun

1. An act or process of making a purchase.
   As our exports and imports are now nearly in balance, it is assumed that such bargaining, if agreed to, would induce the debtor nations to greatly increase their purchasings from us […] 1936, James Arthur Fulton, Our economic nationalism: its purpose and importance, page 84
2. (business, government) A complex, organized process in large organizations for obtaining goods that may include identification of requirements, approvals, supplier management, negotiation, receipt of goods, and payment.
3. A part of an organization that manages such processes