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

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, 1 Oct. 2025

An Instagram post from luxury grocer Erewhon teased potential new locations in major cities, including Nashville. —Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Oct. 2025

Southwest Detroit grocer Joe Gappy remembers standing outside the grocery store his family owned on the north side of Michigan Avenue and looking across the street at a Kroger store. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 26 Sep. 2025

According to an announcement about the partnership, ALDI will also be the first national grocer on the platform to accept SNAP/EBT nationwide. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 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