convenience store

American  

noun

convenience stores plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• convenience stores
  plural

Etymology

Origin of convenience store

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

A woman who said she was sacked for challenging a shoplifter at the Merseyside convenience store where she worked has described the decision to dismiss her as "very harsh".

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026

Casey’s began as a general store in Boone, Iowa, in 1968, and has grown to become the third-largest convenience store operator in the U.S., with more than 2,900 stores.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Perhaps you’ve heard of “car-cuterie”—a spread of cheeses, salumi, fresh fruit and hard-boiled eggs assembled entirely from convenience store shelves.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

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

The men were standing in front of a shoe store, a liquor store, and a convenience store.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz