Many of us work in companies therefore it should be really helpful to learn some vocabulary about office supplies. This is what we’re going to be doing in this vocabulary sheet!
In this section, you’ll find:
- A definition of Office Supplies.
- Examples of frequently asked questions about office supplies.
- A vocabulary sheet about office supplies;
- A vocabulary exercise with images.
Read on and start learning English the right way!
Whether you wish to take the IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL, CAE, FCE, BRIDGE, BULATS (Linguaskill) or even the BRIGHT ENGLISH, you need to enhance your English vocabulary in order to prepare for your test. We have have made a long list of vocabulary worksheets:
- Anthropology Vocabulary
- Chemistry Vocabulary
- Stock Market Vocabulary
- Real Estate Vocabulary
- Purchase Vocabulary
- Product Vocabulary
- Research Vocabulary
- Phone Vocabulary
- Payment Vocabulary
- Management Vocabulary
- Law Vocabulary
- Human Resources Vocabulary
- The Factory Vocabulary
- Vocabulary List: Bank and Finance
- Computer Vocabulary
- Marketing Vocabulary
- Social Media Vocabulary
- Meteorology Vocabulary
- Culture Vocabulary List
- Architecture Vocabulary
- Sociology Vocabulary
What Are Office Supplies and Who Uses Them?
Office supplies are the small equipments needed by a person working in an office, such as pens, pencils, erases, rulers and so on.
Office Suppplies Vocabulary Sheet: Most Common Words
| Word | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Ballpoint | An old form of the pen also known as ‘Bic’, or ‘Bic pen’. It’s still the most widely used brand today | There are many varieties of pens nowadays but nothing compares to the quality of the ballpoint |
| Bulldog clip | A clip that is used to hold paper in place on a stand, for instance for a display or a lecture | Check at the entrance, they provide you with bulldog clips to attach your ID badges |
| Calculator | A small programmable machine for processing digits about numbers, it can execute many logical or arithmetic tasks automatically | No kid can do without a calculator these days, it’s even accepted in the exam rooms |
| Clipboard | Office device, a weighty object one put on top of papers to hold them in place | It is very windy in this room, close the window or use your clipboard |
| Computer | Automatic data-processing equipment, obeying programs, used in particular by administrative staff for their tasks | It takes me less time to use a computer than to write by hand |
| Desk | A table on which to write and work | It’s always nice to work in a company with nice desks |
| Envelope | Sheet of paper folded and pasted in a pocket-size shape to put postal items | Helen, would you please put these letters in envelopes and post them. Thank you |
| Eraser | A small object used to rub out writing and drawings made with a pencil | Nowadays, we have erasers on pencils but they have always been of poor quality |
| Fax | A device for sending and receiving scanned documents. Faxed documents have a legal value | It is fast and legal to use it for a layer |
| Filing cabinet | A tall piece of storage furniture with shelves and one or more doors. | Before leaving, please make sure you store your files in your filing cabinet. Our files are private property |
| Folder | The box containing a set of documents for a case | Please store this file carefully in its folder. It’s an important case |
| Fountain pen | A stylised pen one uses with ink contained in a reservoir or cartridge | No one uses a fountain pen these days. It’s just for the sake of design |
| Glue | Substance capable of holding together, by durable adhesion, materials in contact | I used glue from the office to stick my little boy’s drawing on the wall |
| Highlighter | A marker used to underline a section of writing with a bright and transparent ink | Dear ladies, I used a red highlighter to point out your spelling mistakes |
| Ink Cartridge | Single-use plastic casing containing liquid or powdered ink, for use in various models of printers | I’m going to make a thousand prints, I need to buy several ink cartridges |
| Keyboard | A device with alphanumeric keys in several rows for typing on a computer | I have an azerty keyboard type |
| Label | Small piece of paper or cardboard tied or glued to an item to identify it | Today, your task is to paste labels on all these envelopes |
| Marker | Felt pen drawing broad lines | You must write the address on this parcel in marker, the pen is too small |
| Monitor | It’s the computer’s video output device, in other words, the screen | All monitors under 17 inches are outdated, let’s renew our computer equipment |
| Notebook | Small book to record and store information to keep them in mind | I have a doctor’s appointment at 9 a.m., fortunately I wrote it down in my notebook otherwise I would have forgotten about it |
| Paper | Material made from pasted wooden fibres, then processed into a thin sheet on which to write | I have some letters to type, give me a ream of paper |
| Pencil | Wooden stick, containing a long lead, used for writing or drawing erasable lines | Before you send this letter, please draft it in pencil for me so that I can check for mistakes |
| Pencil sharpener | Small device with a sharp blade used to sharpen pencils | I need a pencil sharpener, my pencil lead is too blunt |
| Push-pin | An object like a small nail with a large head that is pressed in with a finger, commonly used for hanging paper or posters | We need more push pins to put up the policies at the front office |
| Scissors | An object with two steel branches, sharp on the blade. It’s used to cut paper or cardboard | I need scissors to cut all these papers |
| Stamp pad | The stamp pad is a small box used to print a text, a pattern, a logo on a paper. | Remember to reset the date on the stamp pad every day when you stamp the mail |
| Stapler | A small machine containing clips, used to tie sheets of paper together | Once you have sorted the sheets, staple them together |
| Sticky notes | A small sheet of paper to write notes and which has a thin adhesive strip on the back to allow it to be pasted temporarily | Thank you for leaving me your message. These sticky notes are really useful |
| Tape | Adhesive strip for packing boxes | Wrap this package and use the brown tape |
| Wastebasket | A specific type of bin designed to receive waste from an office | How many times do I have to say, don’t throw food in the wastebasket, it’s only for papers… |
Examples of Office Supplies Vocabulary Terms in Sentences
Let’s go over some examples in forms of questions:
⮞ ‘In this list for ordering next year’s ephemeris, which format do you want?’
I would like the one with a wooden stand, mentioning the holidays and public holidays.
⮞ ‘How many paper reams does one month of photocopying require?’
for our bid files, at least ten.
⮞ ‘I have some health-problems with my back, do you have ergonomic chairs?’
Yes, we have seats with adjustable headrests and armrests.
⮞ ‘This stapler is too tiny, can you order me the 24/6 mm, 26/6 mm size?’
Well, sure, you’ll get it in three days.
⮞ ‘Can you order fifty large envelopes, one hundred and twenty medium-sized and twenty-five small ones?’
Yes, of course.
⮞ ‘We still need ballpoint pens even though we use the computer. Can you order me a set in black, blue, green and red?’
Yes, how many do you want exactly?
⮞ ‘Would you please sort Mr. Red’s files in the red folder?’
Coming right up, sir.
⮞ ‘Would you check the fax machine regularly for paper?’
I’m already doing it, sir.
⮞ ‘Can I have a return desk? We’d have more room for drawers.’
Then, you’ll give the older one to the trainee.
⮞ ‘Would you please use the green highlighter for an agreement, the yellow one for a correction and the red one for a misprint?’
Understood, sir.
Office Supplies Vocabulary Quizz and Practice Exercises
In the below exercises, look at the pictures and try to fill in the blanks:
Learn Vocabulary Online On GlobalExam’s Online Platform
From now on, you’ll no longer be mocked by secretaries when you ask for supplies, thanks to GlobalExam, you have learned almost everything about office supplies. And that’s not all, browse for more glossaries in the other vocabulary sections.
