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

After a series of setbacks, Kroger’s recent decision to close 60 locations nationwide is the latest sign of distress for the grocer that operates more than 300 stores in California. —Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025

Charity says grocer doesn’t disclose human-rights policy Oxfam America, a charity that fights global inequality and poverty, asked for a public report on Albertsons’ human-rights policy. —Angela Palermo july 4, Idaho Statesman, 4 July 2025

Current Economic Conditions Are Reshaping America’s BBQ Tradition With profit margins in the low single digits, grocers have virtually no cushion to absorb cost increases. —Shelley E. Kohan, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025

Publix’s arrival threatens to shake up the market share among the region’s top grocers. —Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 3 July 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