school supplies — materials
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
things like pens, notebooks, and other items students need for school work.
Say it like a native
Textbook We must procure the requisite educational materials.
Native We need to buy some school supplies.
'School supplies' is plain; 'procure educational materials' is bureaucratic.
Pattern: school supplies (noun, plural)
In use
- Before the new term started, I bought all my school supplies, including notebooks and highlighters.education
- In my opinion, schools should provide basic school supplies for students who cannot afford them.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I bought a school supply.
✓ I bought some school supplies.
Usually plural 'supplies' — it's a collective term.
Common collocations
school supplies + verb— buy school supplies, stationery, a pack of supplies, back-to-school supplies
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'stationery,' which usually means paper, pens, and envelopes for writing letters.