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 other one strutted on a box of gravy packets in the kitchen’s dry goods area. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025 Cleaning chemicals were stored on top of and around dry goods on a storage shelf. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025 The Starbucks near the home plate entrance does brisk business; there are plans for a dry goods store as well as a Lucchese Boot Co. in the repurposed concourse. Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2025 The generous 24-piece set comes with six 0.7-quart, six 1.5-quart, six 1.8-quart, and six 2.5-quart containers that work well for storing dry goods like pasta, cereal, and rice or baking essentials like flour, sugar, chocolate chips, and more. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Dry goods.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry%20goods. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

dry goods

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

More from Merriam-Webster on dry goods

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