grocer

noun

gro·​cer ˈgrō-sər How to pronounce grocer (audio) -shər How to pronounce grocer (audio)
: a dealer in staple foodstuffs, meats, produce, and dairy products and usually household supplies

Examples of grocer in a Sentence

Ask your local grocer if he sells organic fruits and vegetables.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hotels, restaurants, membership clubs and high-end grocers, though, remain the priority in its expansion plan. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 Sprouts, Target, Walmart and other national grocers now carry ROC products as well. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026 But Albertsons also has a cost structure higher than that of its rivals, leaving less room to maneuver and shield consumers from higher prices than discount grocers like Walmart and Kroger or bulk operators like Sam’s Club and Costco. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026 And the app Flashfood encourages grocers to list meat, dairy and produce nearing their best-before date at around half price and directs shoppers, including those on public food assistance, to those deals. — Jintao Zhang, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grocer

Word History

Etymology

Middle English grocer, grosser "wholesale dealer in preserved foods, spices, wine, etc.," borrowed from Anglo-French groser, grosser, grossour (Middle French grossier), from gros "the greater part, the bulk," en gros "wholesale, in bulk" (derivative of gros, adjective, "large, great, coarse") + -er, -our -er entry 2 — more at gross entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grocer was in the 15th century

Rhymes for grocer

See All Rhymes for grocer

Browse Nearby Words

grobianism
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Cite this Entry

“Grocer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grocer. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

grocer

noun
gro·​cer ˈgrō-sər How to pronounce grocer (audio)
: a dealer in food and household supplies
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