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

Finding a high-quality moisturizer that doesn’t cost half your grocery bill—and actually works—can feel like an endless search. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2025

On the day of their murder, July 10, Kaye and Deluca arrived home after a grocery run to find an intruder, a stranger with a baseball cap, gray shirt and black sandals, per a police affidavit obtained by PEOPLE. —Sean Mandell, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025

Most grocery and big box stores, including Target and Walmart, will be open for Labor Day. —John Tufts, IndyStar, 26 Aug. 2025

Locals Food Hub & Pizza Pub, a restaurant and small grocery in Louisville's Smoketown neighborhood, has been awarded a $50,000 grant. —Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 26 Aug. 2025

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

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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