dry goods

plural noun

ˈdrī-ˌgu̇dz 

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

By 1884, a map of the Central Business District shows hotels, saloons, dry goods shops, cigar manufacturers, and stores selling everything from shoes, to jewelry and even a winemaker. — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2026

Serrano's Mexican Restaurant — a restaurant chain in Arizona — was founded in 1919 as a dry goods store by his grandfather and great-uncle, immigrants who'd fled the Mexican Revolution. — Megan Sauer, CNBC, 18 June 2026

Installing an oversized pegboard in the pantry can be a great way to organize dry goods, spices, and extra cookware that would otherwise disappear into the back of a shelf. — Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026

Store dry goods in clear jars to keep things streamlined and cohesive. — Jane Kim, The Spruce, 11 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for dry goods

• backwoods
• childhoods
• falsehoods
• flatwoods
• hardwoods
• priesthoods
• redwoods
• softwoods
• brotherhoods
• cottonwoods
• likelihoods
• livelihoods

Kids Definition

dry goods

plural noun

ˈdrī-ˌgu̇dz 

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