Consignee definition including break down of areas in the definition. Analyzing the definition of key term often provides more insight about concepts. Consignee can be defined as: Receiver of goods owned by another who holds them for purposes of selling them or the owner. Consignee can be a confusing term because it can be unclear who owns the inventory in question. The consignee receives the inventory and is holding onto it but the inventory does not go on the books of the consignee because the consignor is still the person who has ownership. The consignor giving the goods to a consignee who will then sell the goods for the consignor and give the consignor the majority of the profit.