First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
acquisition
noun ac·qui·si·tion \ˌa-kwə-ˈzi-shən\
Definition of ACQUISITION
1
: the act of acquiring
2
: something or someone acquired or gained <the team announced two new acquisitions>
— ac·qui·si·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-nəl\ adjective
— ac·quis·i·tor \ə-ˈkwi-zə-tər\ noun
See acquisition defined for English-language learners
See acquisition defined for kids
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Examples of ACQUISITION
- Steven Schwartzman, the billionaire CEO of Blackstone, suffers no personal liquidity problems. But his firm, and others like it—have had to call off a series of proposed acquisitions because they can't get financing. —Daniel Gross, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2008
- The gifting of books, too, endured as a legacy of our book hunting. I quickly learned not to ask for newly published books as birthday or Christmas presents, since they provided my father with too little of a challenge. The measure of a gift's value was the amount of thought and effort that went into its acquisition. —Charles Mitchell, Bloomsbury Review, November/December 2002
- Although some believe that the rise of advertising and strip malls have fostered slavish devotion to shopping where it didn't exist before, Hine posits that the acquisition of objects has a firm place in humanity's history. —Publishers Weekly, 7 Oct. 2002
- McKnight and Ward, free-agent acquisitions who each have only one full season as a starter, have brought much-needed speed to the position. But rookie Chris Chambers, a second-round draft pick from Wisconsin, is the jewel. —Jeffri Chadiha, Sports Illustrated, 1 Oct. 2000
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Origin of ACQUISITION
Middle English acquisicioun, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French acquisition, from Latin acquisition-, acquisitio, from acquirere
Related to ACQUISITION
- Synonyms
- accession, obtainment
Rhymes with ACQUISITION
ACQUISITIONAL Defined for Kids
acquisition
noun ac·qui·si·tion \ˌa-kwə-ˈzi-shən\
Definition of ACQUISITION for Kids
1
: the act of gaining especially through effort <the acquisition of knowledge>
2
: something gained especially through effort <The museum's new acquisitions>
Learn More About ACQUISITION
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