brick-and-mortar

American  

[brik-uhn-mawr-ter] / ˈbrɪk ənˈmɔr tər /

Also bricks-and-mortar

adjective

1. pertaining to conventional stores, businesses, etc., having physical buildings and facilities, as opposed to internet or remote services.

2. made of bricks and mortar.

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Etymology

Origin of brick-and-mortar

First recorded in 1860–65 brick-and-mortar for def. 2; brick-and-mortar def. 1 in 1985–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

brick-and-mortar

I’d adapted when the Covid-19 pandemic closed our brick-and-mortar building and gave middle managers and commercial consultants more authority.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

Even when shoppers do frequent brick-and-mortar shops, their online equivalents still inform purchase decisions.

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

The conference launched in 1984, and 42 years later, the internet megabrand’s beating heart is still an annual brick-and-mortar conference.

From Slate ● May 8, 2026

“Where are people going to go in a pinch when there’s no brick-and-mortar that’s consistently open?” she asks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

There was nothing left but a charred brick-and-mortar shell, roof gone and gutted from the inside.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah