grocery

American  

[groh-suh-ree, groh-shree] / ˈgroʊ sə ri, ˈgroʊ ʃri /

noun

• groceries
  plural

1. Also called grocery store.  a store that sells perishable and nonperishable food supplies and certain nonedible household items, such as soaps and paper products.

2. Usually groceries; grocery food and other items sold at a grocery store or sold by a grocer.

3. the business of a grocer.

4. Southwestern U.S. (formerly)

   1. a saloon or bar.

   2. a liquor store.

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grocery British  

/ ˈɡrəʊsərɪ /

noun

1. the business or premises of a grocer

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• groceries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of grocery

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English grocerie; grocer + -ie -y ³ ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grocery groceries

Many members of the coalition “cannot compete with the municipal grocery stores, and therefore, will be put out of business,” the complaint reads.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Older adults with diabetes in Medicare Advantage plans don’t have better health than those with traditional Medicare, even with extra benefits like a grocery allowance or a gym membership.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026

Mitsuwa Marketplace, a fast-growing Asian grocery chain, sells packages of thin, hot-pot-ready A5 cuts for $120 per pound.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

Recently, I went to the grocery store intending, more or less, to buy ingredients for spaghetti with a weeknight Bolognese.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

As Dovid rolled back under the covers, I poked through my grocery box’s contents.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Residents typically stock up on groceries ahead of Nyepi so they can stay at home during the holiday.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Amazon said its Prime Air service can deliver a selection of items by drone including groceries, electronics, medications and household products.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

But Target executives said on their call that they are trying to refashion the chain into a bigger destination for groceries.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

“We often lose our balance when doing two things at once — walking and talking or carrying groceries — and tai chi builds the capacity to coordinate and do multiple things simultaneously,” Swanson says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

Sarah was still studying Mrs. Ebeling as if the secrets of the universe, or at least of our family, could be found by determining the most effective manner of bringing groceries into the house.

From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen