bricks and mortar

British  

noun

1. 1. a building or buildings

      he invested in bricks and mortar rather than stocks and shares

   2. ( as modifier )

      a bricks-and-mortar fortune

2. 1. a physical business premises rather than an internet presence

   2. ( as modifier )

      bricks-and-mortar firms

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bricks and mortar Idioms  

1. Basic and essential, as in Matthew Arnold's essay (1865): “Margate, that bricks-and-mortar image of British Protestantism.” This phrase transfers essential building materials to other fundamental matters. It also may be used more literally to denote a building or buildings (whether or not made of bricks and mortar), as in The alumni prefer to see their donations in the form of bricks and mortar. [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bricks and mortar

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the hubs were "about more than bricks and mortar" and showed the government "believes in young people and is investing in their futures".

From BBC ● Apr. 6, 2026

It’s not just about bricks and mortar and shelter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2025

Controversial online fast-fashion seller Shein will open its first bricks and mortar store in the world in Paris next week, its new landlord announced Friday.

From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2025

But buildings are made of bricks and mortar and wood and concrete.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2025

The principle of the scaffold was that loose bricks and mortar always were at the level of the top of the wall being built.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey