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.
Family Dollar, which shuttered in 2023, provided the neighborhood with low-cost goods, while Whole Foods Market is best known as a high-end grocer specializing in natural and organic foods. — Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026 The grocery and home delivery space faces stiff competition chiefly from Amazon and Walmart, which has pressured conventional grocers for years. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026 The Sicilian food line offers artisanal pantry staples, including a range of extra virgin olive oils and is carried by specialty grocers such as Erewhon and The Fresh Market. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026 The Southern Californian chain Vallarta Supermarkets opened its newest store in Duarte on Wednesday, marking the 66th location for the popular Latin American grocer. — Los Angeles Times, 23 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

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Cite this Entry

“Grocer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grocer. Accessed 28 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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