Definition of LOGISTICS (original) (raw)
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
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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
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Current solutions, while effective for smaller problems, struggle when faced with large-scale logistics networks or with rapidly changing conditions such as traffic conditions. —
Yuval Boger, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 Bangladesh’s logistics sector already dealt with plenty of distractions throughout 2024 as political unrest pervaded throughout the country. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 14 Jan. 2025 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 See all Example Sentences for logistics 
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of logistics was circa 1861
Dictionary Entries Near logistics
Cite this Entry
“Logistics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/logistics. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 5 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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