Requisition

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˌɹɛkwɪˈzɪʃən/

Definitions

1. A formal written request or demand for something, typically supplies or resources, to be provided or delivered
2. A formal request made to obtain specific goods, services, or resources, typically for organizational, military, or institutional use
3. A formal appeal made to acquire particular goods or services, often within a business or military context, that is legally recognized

Etymology: "Requisition" carries the sense of a demand for something one is entitled to take, and its roots lie in the Latin verb "requirere", meaning "to seek again" or "to ask for." Through Medieval Latin "requisitio", the word passed into Old French as "requisicion", and English borrowed it in the Middle Ages as "requisicion", with the spelling and ending settling into the modern form over later centuries. Its core idea is a formal request, which is why the word moved easily into legal and military use. An official who issues a requisition is asking for goods or services under recognized authority, and the thing requested is usually something needed for a specific purpose, such as supplies for an army or equipment for an office. The verb and noun share this sense of a formal, documented demand rather than an ordinary favour.

Synonyms: request, demand, order

Antonyms: voluntary, offer