mom-and-pop

adjective

ˈmäm-ən(d)-ˈpäp 

1

: being or relating to a small owner-operated business

a mom-and-pop grocery

2

: small-scale

Examples of mom-and-pop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Yu, who said he’s spoken with his and Wang’s mutual acquaintances to offer help for Gu Grocery, noted that he hasn’t been approached by the mom-and-pop team. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Small mom-and-pop landlords with under 10 homes control about 85% of the rental market. — Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 27 July 2026

On the upside for most daily driver customers, scale can mean better pricing, more consistent warranties, and parts availability a true mom-and-pop can’t match. — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 23 July 2026

And the broader challenges facing the indie film market mean that some smaller mom-and-pop vendors are struggling, and there isn’t necessarily a single entity with the breadth of knowledge to help indie producers across the board. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 21 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for mom-and-pop

• barbershop
• countertop
• lollipop
• mountaintop
• photoshop
• tabletop
• turboprop
• atop
• backdrop
• backstop
• bebop
• blacktop