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

Hy-Vee and Kroger are among grocers using the FoodHealth Score system to help customers eat healthier. —Philip Joens, Des Moines Register, 29 Jan. 2026

The grocer has conducted shopper polls every year since 2009 to determine its award winners. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 28 Jan. 2026

Amazon shares rose more than 1% in midday trading, while shares of rival grocers were lower. —Christina Cheddar Berk,sarah Min, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026

After buying Whole Foods in 2017, Amazon quickly added home delivery from the organic grocer’s stores, but the company has struggled to find the right formula for stocking and delivering perishable goods from its massive network of warehouses. —Bloomberg, Daily News, 27 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