grocer

noun

gro·​cer ˈgrō-sər  -shər 

: a dealer in staple foodstuffs, meats, produce, and dairy products and usually household supplies

Examples of grocer in a Sentence

Ask your local grocer if he sells organic fruits and vegetables.

Recent Examples on the Web

Aldi bought and is cleared to develop roughly 3 acres of vacant land at the southeast corner of Power and Elliot roads in Mesa as the discount grocer continues to expand across metro Phoenix. —Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 8 Jan. 2026

The plaza has hosted music stars, local grocers and popular spots like Milam’s Market, Matsuri and Yesterday & Today Records. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026

The grocer will also receive a $50,000 retailer incentive bonus. —Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026

The high-end grocer plans to open a new store in Los Angeles this year. —Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English grocer, grosser "wholesale dealer in preserved foods, spices, wine, etc.," borrowed from Anglo-French groser, grosser, grossour (Middle French grossier), from gros "the greater part, the bulk," en gros "wholesale, in bulk" (derivative of gros, adjective, "large, great, coarse") + -er, -our -er entry 2 — more at gross entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for grocer

• closer
• grosser
• greengrocer

Kids Definition

grocer

noun

gro·​cer ˈgrō-sər 

: a dealer in food and household supplies