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

Barbers, tailors, grocers, and bakers would often keep a musical instrument handy to pass the time when there were no customers. —Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026

However, brick-and-mortar stores do business in similar fashion, yet no legislator or enforcer has thought to police department stores’ or grocers’ prominent placement of in-house brands and labels. —David B McGarry, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026

Clients included a large grocer, churches and a South Side night club, Ruffin said. —Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026

Especially for a generation that came of age shopping with their parents at Florida’s largest grocer. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 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