grocer

noun

gro·​cer ˈgrō-sər  -shər 

: a dealer in staple foodstuffs, meats, produce, and dairy products and usually household supplies

Examples of grocer in a Sentence

Ask your local grocer if he sells organic fruits and vegetables.

Recent Examples on the Web

Corti Brothers This legacy Sacramento grocer is opening pre-orders for birds from Mary’s Turkey, of Pitman Family Farms in Sanger. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 6 Nov. 2026

This is like a Costco membership where Washington is the buying club and the grocer is the member. — David L. Ortega, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026

Just in time for the holiday season, a new Trader Joe’s location opened today, November 5, in Florida, allowing even more people to try out the grocer’s Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Kettle Chips and Jingle Jangle. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 5 Nov. 2026

As drawn, the hotel and the grocer sit on the traffic-heavy south side of the plot, shielding a public lawn and green space from cars and a parking lot. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English grocer, grosser "wholesale dealer in preserved foods, spices, wine, etc.," borrowed from Anglo-French groser, grosser, grossour (Middle French grossier), from gros "the greater part, the bulk," en gros "wholesale, in bulk" (derivative of gros, adjective, "large, great, coarse") + -er, -our -er entry 2 — more at gross entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for grocer

• closer
• grosser
• greengrocer

Kids Definition

grocer

noun

gro·​cer ˈgrō-sər 

: a dealer in food and household supplies