provisioners
Those who supply
Provisioners are people or entities that supply provisions—food, equipment, or other necessary goods.
A ship's provisioner stocks vessels before voyages; a military provisioner ensures troops have supplies.
In computing, provisioners are automated tools that configure and set up systems: The provisioner installed all the required software on the new servers.
The term appears in both traditional supply contexts and modern DevOps workflows.
Those who sell goods
- merchantsThose who conduct commerce
- wholesalersBulk goods merchants
- distributorsEntities that supply retailers
- purveyorsSuppliers of goods
outfitters · dealers · stockists · traders · brokers · retailers · resellers · importers
Edible items or ingredients
- rationsControlled food portions
- groceriesFood bought at stores
- suppliesResources for a task
- storesRetail establishments or reserves
victuals · fare · staples · consumables · edibles · necessities · essentials · stockpile
Knit leg garment
- equippingProviding necessary tools
- furnishingItems equipping a space
- outfittingSupplying with necessary gear
- supplyingProviding what's required
distributing · rationing · replenishing · restocking · preparing · readying · allocating · dispensing
vendors
Those who sell goods
- merchantsThose who conduct commerce
- wholesalersBulk goods merchants
- distributorsEntities that supply retailers
purveyors · outfitters · dealers · stockists · traders · brokers · retailers · resellers · importers · exporters
foodstuffs
Edible items or ingredients
stores · victuals · fare · staples · consumables · edibles · necessities · essentials · stockpile · reserves
stocking
Knit leg garment
- equippingProviding necessary tools
- furnishingItems equipping a space
- outfittingSupplying with necessary gear
supplying · distributing · rationing · replenishing · restocking · preparing · readying · allocating · dispensing · issuing
distribution
Allocation across recipients
- warehousingStoring goods commercially
- inventoryCatalog of held assets
- shipmentGoods being transported
delivery · freight · dispatch · tracking · cargo · fleet · transportation · trucking · pallets · containers
- merchantstraders, merchant, merchants, retailers, vendors
- Colonial WomenAbigail Adams, Martha Washington, Betsy Ross, Molly Pitcher, goodwives
provisionersconsumers
Those who buy goods
end users · recipients · customers · buyers · purchasers
provisionersreceivers
Those who accept transmissions
recipients · takers · hoarders · confiscators