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 has 103 stores, according to the Chain Store Guide. —Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2025

The vote marked the first successful organizing effort at Whole Foods since Amazon acquired the upscale grocer for $13.7 billion in 2017. —Annie Palmer, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2025

State of play: Its front-facing Wahlburgers restaurant closed in October when the grocer announced multiple changes to the downtown location. —Jason Clayworth, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025

The new grocer will take over Gladstone Supermarket at 6599 N. Oak Trafficway. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025

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