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 grocer recommends that customers throw affected products away or return them to a store for a full refund. —Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026

Here's what to fill your cart with on your next trip to the bulk-buy grocer. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026

Plus, competition has grown fiercer — not only from the nation’s largest grocer by revenue, Walmart, but also from Amazon and fast-expanding discounter Aldi. —Melissa Repko, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026

Stores included warehouse bulk clubs like Costco, to more specialty grocers like Whole Foods. —Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 3 Mar. 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