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

From the bands that grocers use to keep broccoli stalks together, to resistance bands which are used for fitness and physical therapy, colorful rubber bands for crafting, oversized bands for industrial use and specialty bands which can be used for do-it-yourself projects such as tie-dye. —Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2025

By itself, Walmart has almost as much market share as all the nation's 26,000 small supermarket grocers combined. —Tovia Smith, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025

The outbreak was forcing a shortage of eggs as well, leading some grocers to restrict how many dozens of eggs consumers could buy per visit. —Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 29 Oct. 2025

Scott Olson | Getty Images While there are different ways to consider how a lapse in SNAP benefits could impact retailers, grocers will likely take a hit. —Courtney Reagan, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2025

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