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.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebWest Coast wildfires have jumbled logistics for companies like Amazon. Keith Bradsher, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022 Russia expected its February blitzkrieg to end in a quick victory, but the conflict has bogged down and Ukraine is now pressing an offensive in the south aimed at busting up Russian logistics and taking back territory. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 The tour is limited to 26 passengers, because of the logistics involving small planes. Scott Mcmurren, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022 That said, after a devastating pandemic that caused a prolonged absence of major events, not everyone is upset about having to manage the unique logistics imposed by this calendar crush. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2022 Napier has a person serving as director of football operations, a director of player personnel, another person coordinating player engagement and NIL, and one to oversee football logistics. Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 The Utah Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately comment on booster logistics in the state. Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 Beyond the logistics lay a bigger question: What kind of stories would emerge from the horror, the social cataclysm and all the deeply personal fallout caused by a pandemic? Mary Mcnamara, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2022 Last month, Chipotle shuttered a location in Augusta, Maine that had filed for a union election, hours before the union and management were scheduled for a National Labor Relations Board hearing about logistics for a potential election. Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 See More
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