store-bought

American  

[stawr-bawt, stohr-] / ˈstɔrˈbɔt, ˈstoʊr- /

adjective

Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.

1. commercially made rather than homemade.

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Etymology

Origin of store-bought

First recorded in 1900–05

Explanation

If you purchase something from a shop, you can describe it as store-bought. If you don't have time to cook for your friend's potluck, you can stop and pick up a store-bought lasagna on the way. This North American adjective was coined in the early 20th century, right around the time the first grocery stores opened in the U.S. In Britain, most people say shop-bought instead. Store-bought is a good word to use for distinguishing food that's sold in stores from homemade: "I made my grandfather's award-winning brownies for the bake sale, but I noticed that everyone else brought store-bought cookies."

Example Sentences

One of the youngest sweet tooths is Matilda, six, who helped her mum Jasmin Gelsana, 36, decorate a store-bought cake, and who happily admits: "I'm a good eater, not a baker".

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Matijevich prefers using homemade beef stock, but store-bought beef stock works just fine.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

Inside, Beshear was seated before an unlit fireplace, legs crossed, shirt collar unbuttoned, looking like the pleasantly unassuming Dad in a store-bought picture frame.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026

Formula—real, store-bought formula—is, except in freak cases of contamination, a perfectly safe and good option for getting babies fed, right now.

From Slate • Jan. 20, 2026

Vonetta pulled herself away from her mirror and said, “We like this store-bought house better.”

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia