brick-and-mortar

adjective

brick-and-mor·​tar ˈbrik-ən(d)-ˈmȯr-tər How to pronounce brick-and-mortar (audio)
variants or bricks-and-mortar
: relating to or being a traditional business serving customers in a building as contrasted to an online business
a brick-and-mortar store

Examples of brick-and-mortar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The exhibition is online-only, as the museum, approved by Congress in 2020, is still seeking a brick-and-mortar location on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 And the big news: Their first brick-and-mortar is being built out on the ground floor of the VESPR, a luxury apartment complex on 24th Street in Oakland. Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 Unfortunately, the pandemic shuttered the brick-and-mortar location, but the Ivyees online shop is still thriving with an even wider selection of health and wellness products, including bee pollen by the bottle, as well as honey and peppermint toothpaste and honey lip balm tint. Nafeesah Allen, Health, 11 Mar. 2024 On the ground, the campaign plans to dramatically increase its brick-and-mortar presence this month and aims to open 100 new offices across battleground states with 350 new staffers. Allison Novelo, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024 Even more boysenberry food and beverage items will be available at brick-and-mortar restaurants and food stands around the Buena Park theme park. Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024 Just a few years later — thanks to the overwhelming support of the community — what started as a small group of individuals training and baking out of the home of founders Renee and John Ratcliffe will soon be a brick-and-mortar cafe. Laurie Larsh, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2024 Aldi —a German brand whose U.S. arm is headquartered in Batavia, Illinois — will cut the ribbon on new brick-and-mortar stores through a combination of new openings and store conversions. Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 But One Medical has fewer than 200 brick-and-mortar clinics in just two dozen mostly urban locations, which means many of the Prime members who become One Medical patients will only be able to access the service virtually. Caroline O'Donovan, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brick-and-mortar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brick-and-mortar was in 1975

Dictionary Entries Near brick-and-mortar

Cite this Entry

“Brick-and-mortar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brick-and-mortar. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!