E-commerce Vocabulary in English
20 essential e-commerce words with definitions and example sentences — checkout, cart, and fulfilment for B1–C1 ESL learners.
E-commerce vocabulary is essential for anyone who shops or sells online, which today means almost everyone. From adding an item to your basket to tracking a parcel, these words appear on websites, in confirmation emails, and in conversations about running an online shop. For B1 to C1 learners, mastering this vocabulary makes buying, selling, and working in digital retail far more straightforward.
This page covers 20 key e-commerce words and phrases that you will meet in real situations — guiding a shopper to the checkout, improving your conversion rate, or arranging fulfilment for a busy online store. Each term comes with a clear definition and a natural example sentence so you can see exactly how it is used in the world of online trading.
If you would like to broaden your commercial English, take a look at our related Marketing vocabulary, Business vocabulary, and Logistics vocabulary pages. Together, these lists give you the confidence to launch products, promote them, and ship orders to customers in English.
Word List
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| checkout | the part of an online shop where a customer reviews their order and pays for it | She added the dress to her order and went straight to the checkout to pay. |
| cart | a virtual container that holds the items a shopper has chosen before they pay | He had three books in his cart but only bought two of them. |
| shopping basket | the British term for the online cart that stores items before payment | The website shows how many items are in your shopping basket at the top of the page. |
| fulfilment | the whole process of receiving, packing, and delivering a customer's order | The company uses a warehouse to handle order fulfilment for thousands of parcels a day. |
| conversion | the point at which a visitor to a website becomes a paying customer | A clearer checkout page led to a much higher conversion of visitors into buyers. |
| marketplace | an online platform where many different sellers list their products for buyers | She sells her handmade candles on a popular online marketplace. |
| dispatch | to send out goods to a customer; also the act of sending them | We aim to dispatch all orders within one working day of payment. |
| returns | goods sent back by customers, or the process of handling them | The shop offers free returns if you are not happy with your purchase. |
| payment gateway | the online service that securely processes card payments between a shop and a bank | The payment gateway encrypts card details so the transaction stays secure. |
| abandoned cart | an online basket that a shopper fills but leaves without completing the purchase | The shop sends a reminder email to customers who leave an abandoned cart. |
| product listing | the page or entry that describes an item for sale, with photos, price, and details | A clear product listing with good photos helps shoppers decide to buy. |
| SKU | a unique code used to identify and track each individual product in stock | Every size and colour of the shirt has its own SKU in the system. |
| stock | the goods a shop has available to sell at a given time | The popular trainers sold out, so they were out of stock for a week. |
| shipping | the transport of goods to a customer, and the cost charged for it | Orders over £50 qualify for free shipping anywhere in the UK. |
| customer review | a written opinion left by a buyer about a product or seller | Positive customer reviews encouraged him to trust the new online shop. |
| drop-shipping | a model where a seller takes orders but a supplier ships the goods directly to the customer | With drop-shipping, she never handles the products she sells herself. |
| subscription | an arrangement where a customer pays regularly to keep receiving a product or service | The coffee company offers a monthly subscription that delivers fresh beans to your door. |
| discount code | a series of letters or numbers a shopper enters at checkout to reduce the price | Enter the discount code at checkout to get ten per cent off your first order. |
| landing page | the first web page a visitor reaches, often designed to encourage a purchase or sign-up | The advert sends shoppers to a landing page promoting the new summer range. |
| click-through rate | the percentage of people who click a link or advert out of all those who see it | The new banner doubled the click-through rate to the sale page. |
Practice These Words
Flash Cards
Review e-commerce vocabulary with spaced repetition
Wordsearch
Find e-commerce words hidden in the grid
Quiz
Test your e-commerce vocabulary knowledge
Practice What You've Learned
LexFizz has 30 free interactive exercises — no sign-up needed.
Browse All Exercises →Related Vocabulary Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a cart and a checkout?
A cart — called a shopping basket in British English — is the virtual container that holds the items a shopper has chosen while they browse. Nothing is bought until they decide to pay. The checkout is the final stage, where the customer reviews everything in the basket, enters their delivery and payment details, and completes the purchase. In short, the cart is where you collect items, and the checkout is where you pay for them. A smooth checkout is vital, because a confusing one is one of the main reasons shoppers give up before buying.
What does fulfilment mean in e-commerce?
Fulfilment is the whole process that happens after a customer places an order: receiving the order, picking the right items from stock, packing them, and dispatching them for delivery. It also includes handling returns when goods come back. Many online shops use a fulfilment centre or warehouse, sometimes run by another company, to manage this efficiently. Good fulfilment means orders arrive quickly and in perfect condition, which keeps customers happy and encourages them to buy again.
What is a conversion rate?
A conversion happens when a visitor to a website does what the shop wants them to do — usually making a purchase. The conversion rate is the percentage of visitors who convert out of everyone who visited. For example, if 100 people visit and 3 buy something, the conversion rate is three per cent. Online shops work hard to raise this figure by improving their product listings, speeding up the checkout, and reducing the number of abandoned carts, because even a small rise in conversion can mean a big increase in sales.
What is an abandoned cart?
An abandoned cart is an online basket that a shopper fills with items but then leaves without completing the purchase. People abandon carts for many reasons: unexpected shipping costs, a long or complicated checkout, or simply changing their mind. Abandoned carts are very common, so many shops send a reminder email offering help or a small discount code to tempt the shopper back. Reducing the number of abandoned carts is one of the most effective ways to improve sales.
What is a payment gateway?
A payment gateway is the online service that securely processes a payment between the shop and the customer's bank. When a shopper enters their card details at the checkout, the gateway encrypts that information, checks that the card is valid, and confirms whether the payment has gone through. It acts as a secure bridge so that sensitive card data is protected. Popular gateways make it possible for even small online shops to take card payments safely without handling the details themselves.
What is an online marketplace?
An online marketplace is a platform where many different sellers list their products together in one place for buyers to browse. Instead of running its own shop, a seller pays to list items on the marketplace, which handles much of the technology and brings in customers. This makes it easy for small businesses and individuals to reach a large audience quickly. The marketplace usually takes a fee or commission on each sale in return for the traffic and trust it provides.
What is the difference between dispatch and shipping?
Dispatch is the moment a shop sends an order out — when the packed parcel leaves the warehouse and is handed to a courier. Shipping refers to the transport of the goods all the way to the customer, and the word is also used for the delivery cost the customer pays. So a shop might dispatch an order on Monday, but shipping then takes two or three days until it arrives. Telling customers both the dispatch date and the expected shipping time helps them know when to expect their parcel.
What is a SKU?
A SKU, short for Stock Keeping Unit, is a unique code that a shop gives to each individual product so it can be tracked and managed. Every variation counts as a separate SKU, so a T-shirt that comes in three sizes and two colours would have six different SKUs. Using SKUs helps a business keep accurate records of how much stock it has, see which items sell best, and reorder products before they run out. They are especially important when a shop sells hundreds or thousands of different items.
What is drop-shipping?
Drop-shipping is a way of running an online shop where the seller takes orders and payment but never holds any stock. Instead, when a customer buys something, the order is passed to a supplier or manufacturer, who ships the goods directly to the customer. This lowers the start-up cost because the seller does not need a warehouse or money tied up in stock. The downside is that the seller has less control over delivery times and product quality, since another company handles the goods.
What is the best way to learn e-commerce vocabulary?
The most effective way is to connect each word to a real online shopping or selling situation. When you buy something online, notice the words on the screen as you move from your shopping basket through the checkout. If you sell products, pay attention to the language of dispatch, returns, and order fulfilment. Practise the 20 words on this page with Flash Cards on LexFizz, then test yourself with the Quiz. Linking the vocabulary to tasks you actually do, such as applying a discount code or writing a product listing, helps the words stick far faster than memorising a list.