back-order

back order

1. noun An item that is not currently available for sale but can be ordered. No, that dress is sold out, but we can make it a back order for you.2. verb To order an item that is not currently available for sale. No, that dress is sold out, but we can back order it for you.See also: back, order

back-order something

[for a merchant] to order something that is not in stock and make delivery to the customer when the goods become available. The store didn't have the replacement part for my vacuum cleaner, so the manager back-ordered it for me. The shop had to back-order some of the items on my list.