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

Last year, a National School Choice Awareness Foundation survey found that 60 percent of parents have considered switching schools for their children, with many exploring models beyond traditional brick-and-mortar schools. — Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026

Besides outside food vendors, 12 brick-and-mortar businesses served breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages, and desserts. — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026

Since then, the brand has become a fixture in the menswear space with its 22 brick-and-mortar locations, its first international expansion to London, its e-commerce site and more. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026

In addition to opening her upcoming NYC brick-and-mortar storefront, Allison Roman has ventured into footwear. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 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