mom-and-pop

adjective

ˈmäm-ən(d)-ˈpäp 

1

: being or relating to a small owner-operated business

a mom-and-pop grocery

2

: small-scale

Examples of mom-and-pop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In contrast to older mom-and-pop businesses, national corporate chain motels, restaurants and gas stations dominated the new interstate highway exits. — Daniel Milowski, The Conversation, 29 June 2026

Meanwhile, some restaurant owners and hospitality experts argue the law will create undue burdens on mom-and-pop businesses (such as paying to reprint menus). — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2026

See our article about the Burleson stretch of firework stands with both small mom-and-pop shops and the big corporations. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2026

Not analysis of the games, not human interest stories on the players, but salacious searches for the next star being failed by the mom-and-pop franchises that exist only to develop talent and feed it to the overlords in New York, Los Angeles, the Bay Area and Miami. — Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for mom-and-pop

• barbershop
• countertop
• lollipop
• mountaintop
• photoshop
• tabletop
• turboprop
• atop
• backdrop
• backstop
• bebop
• blacktop