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Apothecaries, Bodegas, and Boutiques
Apothecary, bodega, and boutique may not look very similar, but they are all related both in meaning and in origin. Each of these words can be traced back to a Latin word for “storehouse” (apotheca), and each one refers in English to a retail establishment of some sort. Although bodega initially meant “a storehouse for wine,” it now most commonly refers to a grocery store in an urban area, especially one that specializes in Hispanic groceries. Boutique has also taken on new meanings: its first sense in English (“a small retail store”) is still current, but it now may also denote “a small company that offers highly specialized products or services.” Of the three words, apothecary has changed the least; it has gone from referring solely to the person who sells drugs or medicines to also naming the store where such goods are sold.
Examples of bodega in a Sentence
Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 18 June 2026
However, one of the girls is having an allergic reaction to pineapple (undisclosed, Paula would never), and the mom asks Paula to run down to the bodega to grab some Benadryl.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 17 June 2026
Every bar and many bodegas were showing the game.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Deadline can reveal an exclusive short clip for the film – set against the backdrop of New York City’s bodega culture – ahead of its world premiere at the Palm Springs International ShortFest later this month.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bodega
Cite this Entry
“Bodega.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bodega. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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