1
: being or relating to a small owner-operated business
a mom-and-pop grocery
2

Examples of mom-and-pop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Employment at mom-and-pop shops tumbled by 292,200 jobs in 2025 alone, according to the US Congress Joint Economic Committee’s analysis, based on the Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Index. Matt Egan, CNN Money, 7 May 2026 The Morning Fork is a mom-and-pop diner serving brunch classics like a full or half order of eggs benedict ($17), Belgian waffles ($12) and burritos ($20). Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026 Just last year, Reid and others founded the Houston Barbecue Festival to showcase mom-and-pop barbecue joints in the city. J.c. Reid, Houston Chronicle, 2 May 2026 Chicagoans first fell in love with the Italian comfort food in small late-night eateries that flourished thanks to the long hours, outgoing personalities and deft dough-throwing hands of their mom-and-pop owners. Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for mom-and-pop

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of mom-and-pop was in 1945

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Cite this Entry

“Mom-and-pop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mom-and-pop. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

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