general store

American  

noun

• general stores
  plural

1. a store, usually in a rural area, that sells a wide variety of merchandise, as clothing, food, or hardware, but is not divided into departments.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• general stores
  plural

Etymology

Origin of general store

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

general store

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

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.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

Consisting of a couple of weatherboard buildings, a general store, a caravan park and a petrol station grouped around a modest main street, Licola is one of Australia's smallest towns.

From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2026

At the time, Lincoln had been a licensed attorney for 1½ years; he still shared cramped bachelor lodgings above a general store.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2025

Empty shelves greeted Ridgeway and Boseman in the general store.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Related Words

• convenience store
• trading post