grocery

noun

gro·​cery ˈgrōs-rē 

ˈgrō-sə-;

ˈgrōsh-rē 

plural groceries

1

groceries plural : the food and supplies sold by a grocer

—usually singular in British usage

2

: a grocer's store

Examples of grocery in a Sentence

She stopped to pick up some groceries for supper.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the higher costs make trips to the grocery store more expensive for middle-class Americans, who’ve sweated grocery prices as inflation sticks. —Mark Dent, HubSpot, 12 Sep. 2025

To start, decide in advance what’s off-limits (like clothes or takeout) and what’s allowed (groceries, bills, essentials). —Essence, 12 Sep. 2025

Retailers have responded by placing it across wellness, grocery and beauty aisles. —Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025

Buoyed by membership growth, the local grocery cooperative has been eyeing five sites for possible expansion, including one in Northwest Meridian, Senior Marketing Director Tyler Schnur told the Idaho Statesman in March. —Rose Evans september 12, Idaho Statesman, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English grocerye, grosery "merchandise sold by wholesalers, the Grocers' Company of London," borrowed from Anglo-French grocerie, groserie, from groser "wholesale dealer in preserved foods, spices, wine, etc." + -ie -y entry 2 — more at grocer

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grocery

• do (one's) grocery shopping
• go grocery shopping
• grocery bag
• grocery cart
• grocery list
• grocery store

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Kids Definition

grocery

noun

gro·​cery ˈgrōs-(ə-)rē 

plural groceries

1

plural : food sold by a grocer

went out to buy the groceries

2

: a grocer's store