logistics

noun

lo·​gis·​tics lō-ˈji-stiks 

lə-

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

1

: the aspect of military science dealing with the procurement, maintenance, and transportation of military matériel, facilities, and personnel

2

: the handling of the details of an operation

the logistics of a political campaign

Did you know?

How are logistics and logic related?

Logistics follows the same pattern of other plural nouns—such as ballistics, linguistics, statistics, or physics—that represent fields of study and take either a singular or plural verb.

Logic, used strictly in the singular, is a science that deals with the formal principles of reason. If a visitor walks in the house with a wet umbrella, it is logical for one to assume that it is raining outside. Logistics, which involves such concerns as the delivery of personnel or supplies in an efficient manner, can often employ logic, such as by reasoning out the path least likely to interrupt the flow of a delivery:

As with many other areas of the economy, the digital revolution is having a profound effect on delivery logistics. The combination of mobile computing, analytics, and cloud services, all of which are fueled by the Internet of Things (IoT), is changing how delivery and fulfillment companies are conducting their operations.
—Andrew Meola, Business Insider, 14 Oct. 2016

Both logic and logistics ultimately derive from the Greek logos, meaning "reason." But while logic derives directly from Greek, logistics took a longer route, first passing into French as logistique, meaning "art of calculating," and then into English from there.

Examples of logistics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At the moment, Pleasant said, the fire department has personnel spread across the Howard Office Building, Cornelia Airpark, the current headquarters on Hermitage Avenue and at Metro Southeast, where the department's logistics division is located. —Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 17 Dec. 2024

During the attack, a drone may have been mistaken for a U.S. drone that was expected to return to the logistics base about the same time and was not shot down. —Louis Casiano, Fox News, 16 Dec. 2024

This logistics allows the culinary team to operate at an elite level, delivering dishes that would be impressive in urban areas—let alone in the middle of the wilderness. —Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024

As of May 31, the logistics giant had approximately 505,000 full-time and part-time employees, down 7.7 percent from 547,000 employees on that date two years prior. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French logistique art of calculating, logistics, from Greek logistikē art of calculating, from feminine of logistikos of calculation, from logizein to calculate, from logos reason

First Known Use

circa 1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

logistics

singular or plural noun

lo·​gis·​tics lō-ˈjis-tiks 

: a branch of military science that deals with the transporting, housing, and supplying of troops

logistic

-tik

adjective

or logistical

-ti-kəl