brick-and-mortar

adjective

brick-and-mor·​tar ˈbrik-ən(d)-ˈmȯr-tər 

variants or bricks-and-mortar

: relating to or being a traditional business serving customers in a building as contrasted to an online business

a brick-and-mortar store

Examples of brick-and-mortar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Plus, a mall-vendor commitment costs less than opening a traditional brick-and-mortar. — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 22 Sep. 2026

On the brick-and-mortar front, Talbots closed dozens of stores over the last few years but the downsizing has stopped. — David Moin, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

At the same time, their businesses are of the typical brick-and-mortar variety, rather than the headline-grabbing wealth associated with Silicon Valley and Wall Street. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Now his company is eyeing brick-and-mortar retail opportunities. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for brick-and-mortar

• colporteur
• exporter
• headquarter
• importer
• reporter
• supporter
• transporter
• mortar
• quarter
• shorter
• sorter