grocer

noun

gro·​cer ˈgrō-sər How to pronounce grocer (audio) -shər How to pronounce grocer (audio)
: 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
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.
From hearty breakfast options to handy on-the-go snacks, here’s what to check out during your next trip to the grocer. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026 Like other independent grocers, Liz Abunaw, owner of Forty Acres Fresh Market in the Austin neighborhood, keeps a close eye on her sales numbers. — Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026 Since big grocers in those areas are already scarce, the food deserts would expand, not shrink. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026 Private grocers underserve low-income neighborhoods because the margins don’t justify staying open there. — Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for grocer

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of grocer was in the 15th century

Rhymes for grocer

See All Rhymes for grocer

Browse Nearby Words

grobianism
grocer
grocery
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Cite this Entry

“Grocer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grocer. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

grocer

noun
gro·​cer ˈgrō-sər How to pronounce grocer (audio)
: a dealer in food and household supplies

More from Merriam-Webster on grocer

Nglish: Translation of grocer for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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