About TermCompass

TermCompass is a plain-language dictionary of professional terminology - from freight, shipping and trade to finance, healthcare and law - written for people who work with specialized documents every day and for those who are just starting out.

Who it is for

• Importers and exporters who need to read contracts, bills of lading and letters of credit without guessing.
• Freight forwarders and logistics operators who explain carriage terms to clients and need precise wording.
• Finance, healthcare and legal professionals who need plain-language answers when a term crosses into their field.
• Students of logistics, international trade and supply chain management who want examples from real documentation.
• Anyone who has stared at a shipping invoice and wondered what "demurrage", "free time" or "FOB" actually means.

What every entry contains

Each term page follows a strict structure: a one-line plain-language answer up front, technical definitions, collocations, examples drawn from real business documents, common errors, confusable terms, and an FAQ. Pronunciation is given in British and American IPA, with listen buttons.

How entries are written

1. Research: every term is checked against primary sources - the ICC Incoterms® 2020 rules, UN/CEFACT trade facilitation recommendations, IMO conventions, carrier tariffs and customs regulations. We do not write from memory.
2. Drafting: definitions are written in plain language first, then verified against the technical meaning in context.
3. Review: entries are fact-checked for risk transfer points, payment terms and legal characterisations (such as which documents are negotiable instruments).
4. Publication: entries are released with a publication date and linked to related terms, comparisons and category pages so readers can follow a topic end to end.

Editorial standards

• Definitions are checked against official rule books and conventions, not dictionary churn.
• Examples must be the kind of sentence that actually appears in a cargo contract, a freight invoice or a customs declaration.
• When a term differs by jurisdiction (for example, U.S. versus U.K. usage), we say so explicitly.
• We never present general information as legal, tax or customs advice. When a decision matters, consult the carrier, the customs broker or a qualified professional.

Corrections

If you spot an error or an outdated practice, please write to us via the contact page. Corrections are processed within a few business days and the entry is re-published with an updated date.