1
: grocery items (such as tobacco, sugar, flour, and coffee) that do not contain liquid
2
: textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and notions as distinguished especially from hardware and groceries

Examples of dry goods in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The families are each given a bag of produce and a bag of dry goods. Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025 Born in Bavaria, Strauss had been a dry goods merchant in San Francisco at the height of the Gold Rush. Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 8 May 2025 Tuna Street was the main business thoroughfare and home to the two remaining buildings: the dry goods store Nanka Shoten (1918) and the grocery A. Nakamura Co. (1923). Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025 Terry was not only the owner of the dry goods store. Randy McCrory Vintage Bentonville, Arkansas Online, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for dry goods

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of dry goods was in 1657

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Cite this Entry

“Dry goods.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry%20goods. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

dry goods

plural noun
: cloth goods (as fabrics, lace, and ribbon)

More from Merriam-Webster on dry goods

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