1
: grocery items (such as tobacco, sugar, flour, and coffee) that do not contain liquid
2
: textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and notions as distinguished especially from hardware and groceries

Examples of dry goods 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.
The pantry is set up like a mini-grocery store, with shelves stocked with canned and dry goods like flour, salmon, tuna, dry kidney beans, spaghetti and a variety of soups. La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2024 Seal dry goods, such as pet food and birdseed, in airtight containers in the pantry or garage so mice can't get into them. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024 His parents owned a dry goods shop but the director grew up in poverty after the Great Depression hit in 1929. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 17 Oct. 2024 But the truth is that, putting much of the marketing aside, Erewhon is an excellent grocery store (not to mention a B Corp) with high-quality local produce and dry goods, plus some very good prepared foods. Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dry goods 

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of dry goods was in 1657

Dictionary Entries Near dry goods

Cite this Entry

“Dry goods.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry%20goods. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

dry goods

plural noun
: cloth goods (as fabrics, lace, and ribbon)

More from Merriam-Webster on dry goods

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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