Demand

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /dɪˈmɑːnd/

Definitions

  1. To ask for something forcefully or as a requirement | the quantity of something that consumers want to buy at a given price
  2. To request or insist on something firmly or as a necessity | The level of desire among consumers for a product at a certain price point | A strong and urgent call for something needed or wanted in a specified situation
  3. To express a strong need or requirement for something, both in terms of a firm request and the desired level of consumer interest at a particular price point

Etymology: Tracing back to the late Middle Ages, this word entered English around the late 14th century as a verb, meaning to call for something authoritatively or urgently. It emerged from Old French "demander," which itself derived from Latin "demandare," a compound of "de-" (meaning "away" or "completely") and "mandare" (meaning "to order" or "entrust"). The Latin roots paint a picture of entrusting or giving over a request with a sense of authority or obligation. Originally, "demand" conveyed more than a simple request; it implied a strong assertion or claim, often backed by a right or authority. This sense of insisting or requiring something set it apart from gentler synonyms like "ask." Over time, the noun form developed to refer to the thing that is asked for or insisted upon, as well as the general concept of a pressing need or requirement. Interestingly, "mandare," the root verb in Latin, connects to the idea of handing over or placing a command in someone's care, which links this term to words like "mandate" and "command." This network of related words reflects the underlying theme of control and authority that runs through its history. By the 17th century, the term expanded beyond personal or legal contexts to economic usage, where it came to denote consumers' desire or need for goods and services—hence its crucial role in modern economic vocabulary. This shift from a personal claim to abstract social and economic relations shows the word's adaptability and the broadening of its semantic scope.

Synonyms: requirement, need, request, claim, petition

Antonyms: supply, offer, abandon, relinquish, waive