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 Today, what was once Rafah’s largest supermarket is down to its last few dry goods. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2023 This set of measuring spoons comes with eight spoons with two different spoon shapes for dry goods and liquids and measurements on each side. Molly Allen, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2023 Tyson gives thousands of pounds of chicken and dry goods to first responders and food banks that families rely on as nearly one in three children in the community live in poverty. Hannah Dreier Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023 At a display of Chinese export porcelain, Hart recalled how the dishes had been commissioned in the early 19th century by an American dry goods merchant named Benjamin Leedom. Julie Lasky, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2023 Owner Peter Dietrich said he was forced to throw away most equipment and dry goods. Jessica Rodriguez, Journal Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2023 Judge Pooler was born Rosemary Shankman on June 21, 1938, in Brooklyn to Bertie (Rothbaum) Shankman, a homemaker, and Nathan Shankman, who owned a dry goods store. Sam Roberts, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2023 And salmonella may be associated with undercooked chicken, but it can also be found in dry goods. Good Housekeeping, 19 Aug. 2023 William Jason Morgan was born on Oct. 10, 1935, in Savannah, Ga., to William Morgan, who owned a hardware and dry goods store with his family, and Maxie Ponita (Donehoo) Morgan, a French teacher and a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of America. Clay Risen, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dry goods.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near dry goods

Cite this Entry

“Dry goods.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry%20goods. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

dry goods

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

More from Merriam-Webster on dry goods

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