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

What Happens Next Some grocers do close entirely on Thanksgiving, though. —Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025

Affected products were sold nationwide at grocers including Big Y and Tops. —Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025

The grocer previously cut three of the delivery hubs in 2024 - in markets where Kroger didn't have a strong store presence. —Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Nov. 2025

Online grocer Ocado is seeing the same boom. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 16 Nov. 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