convenience store

American  

noun

1. a retail store that carries a limited selection of basic items, as packaged foods and drugstore items, and is open long hours for the convenience of shoppers.

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convenience store British  

noun

1. a shop that has long opening hours, caters to local tastes, and is conveniently situated

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Etymology

Origin of convenience store

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

That convenience store on the side of the road now has gas pumps, charging stations and mahi mahi tacos.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

In July 2018, 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton took his young son into a Clearwater, Florida, convenience store to purchase snacks.

From Slate • Jun. 4, 2026

He is known as the "father of the convenience store" in Japan.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

During the protests, in a streetside convenience store, a cashier's comments highlighted the division among the Japanese people.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

You eat fast food or the hot dogs and Styrofoam cups of soup that can be microwaved in a convenience store.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich