brick-and-mortar

American  

[brik-uhn-mawr-ter] / ˈbrɪk ənˈmɔr tər /

Also bricks-and-mortar

adjective

1. pertaining to conventional stores, businesses, etc., having physical buildings and facilities, as opposed to internet or remote services.

2. made of bricks and mortar.

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Etymology

Origin of brick-and-mortar

First recorded in 1860–65 brick-and-mortar for def. 2; brick-and-mortar def. 1 in 1985–90

Example Sentences

The company announced the first phase of its brick-and-mortar reopenings last week.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2026

But Mr. Tupy left out an unintentional consequence of Amazon’s global dominance—the demise of countless neighborhood shops, the proverbial mom-and-pop stores, not to mention the loss of many jobs at the large brick-and-mortar retailers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

Even when shoppers do frequent brick-and-mortar shops, their online equivalents still inform purchase decisions.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

"While we continue to believe in the strength of the core business, TGJones has experienced highly challenging trading conditions over the past year, along with many other brick-and-mortar retailers," the spokesperson said.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

There was nothing left but a charred brick-and-mortar shell, roof gone and gutted from the inside.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah