grocery

American  

[groh-suh-ree, groh-shree] / ˈgroʊ sə ri, ˈgroʊ ʃri /

noun

groceries plural

1. Also called grocery store.  a store that sells perishable and nonperishable food supplies and certain nonedible household items, such as soaps and paper products.

2. Usually groceries; grocery food and other items sold at a grocery store or sold by a grocer.

3. the business of a grocer.

4. Southwestern U.S. (formerly)

   1. a saloon or bar.

   2. a liquor store.

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grocery British  

/ ˈɡrəʊsərɪ /

noun

1. the business or premises of a grocer

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• groceries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of grocery

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English grocerie; grocer + -ie -y ³ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Grocery prices rose roughly 25% between 2019 and 2023, hitting staple foods especially hard.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

Dawood Grocery denies all the allegations made by the BBC.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Grocery stores can appear well stocked even when the systems behind them are under pressure.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

Grocery store and furniture sales were the only notable weak spots, each falling 1.0%.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

But when I learned that Mr. Ballagh, a baker at Hanson’s Cash Grocery and Bakery, had taken ill and died, my heart ached.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson