1
: being or relating to a small owner-operated business
a mom-and-pop grocery
2

Examples of mom-and-pop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nestled in the center of the city’s historic Main Street is a quaint mom-and-pop shop, Sita’s Kitchen. Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025 Downtown centers on Route 23, better known as Main Street, where cafés, galleries, and mom-and-pop shops give Windham its hometown warmth. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025 Last year, Tesla rallied thousands of mom-and-pop retail investors to vote their shares of stock in favor of Musk’s billions in pay. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025 Then, there are the multitude of other financial pressures facing mom-and-pop stores everywhere, like competition from major chains. Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mom-and-pop

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of mom-and-pop was in 1945

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Cite this Entry

“Mom-and-pop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mom-and-pop. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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