grocery

noun

gro·​cery ˈgrōs-rē 

ˈgrō-sə-;

ˈgrōsh-rē 

plural groceries

1

groceries plural : the food and supplies sold by a grocer

—usually singular in British usage

2

: a grocer's store

Examples of grocery in a Sentence

She stopped to pick up some groceries for supper.

Recent Examples on the Web

Those include grocery vouchers, housing vouchers for those who elect to relocate during cleanup, air purifiers, cash assistance and support for utility bills. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Rising rents and increasingly expensive grocery runs are straining budgets nationwide. — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026

Dillons, which has several locations across Kansas, falls under its parent company Kroger, a grocery company based in Ohio, overseeing several regional brands. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Millions of Americans tap their smartphone screens daily to order rides, groceries or dinner, hooked on the seamless convenience of the gig economy. — Christopher S. Tang, The Conversation, 8 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English grocerye, grosery "merchandise sold by wholesalers, the Grocers' Company of London," borrowed from Anglo-French grocerie, groserie, from groser "wholesale dealer in preserved foods, spices, wine, etc." + -ie -y entry 2 — more at grocer

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grocery

• do (one's) grocery shopping
• go grocery shopping
• grocery bag
• grocery cart
• grocery list
• grocery store

Video

How Do You Pronounce 'Groceries'?

Is there one standard way?

Kids Definition

grocery

noun

gro·​cery ˈgrōs-(ə-)rē 

plural groceries

1

plural : food sold by a grocer

went out to buy the groceries

2

: a grocer's store