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

Inflected Forms

noun

• groceries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of grocery

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

Example Sentences

The expense of eating out far outpaced grocery price hikes in recent years, making the value gap hard to ignore.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

But this year’s wins follow a wave of labor actions in 2025, including strikes by nurses, grocery workers, Boeing machinists and Starbucks employees.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

They come from different countries, different traditions, different corners of the grocery store.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

For months after his parents left, he suffered panic attacks in grocery stores.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

“The ones in our refrigerator came from the grocery store,” she said.

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein