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

During its fourth quarter, the grocer recorded a healthy 2.4% increase in identical store sales excluding fuel, a key metric that measures sales growth excluding volatile gas prices and the impact of new stores. —Alexander Coolidge, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025

The grocer has opened seven locations in the Metroplex since 2022, including two Tarrant County stores in Alliance and Mansfield. —Kate Marijolovic, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2025

Most grocers that are implementing restrictions on eggs are limiting shoppers to two dozen per trip. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2025

Here's everything to know about the grocer's newest smoothie offering. —Athena Sobhan, People.com, 7 Mar. 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