grocery

noun

gro·​cery ˈgrōs-rē 

ˈgrō-sə-;

ˈgrōsh-rē 

plural groceries

1

groceries plural : the food and supplies sold by a grocer

—usually singular in British usage

2

: a grocer's store

Examples of grocery in a Sentence

She stopped to pick up some groceries for supper.

Recent Examples on the Web

Households already facing budget strains—including rising costs of rent, groceries, and fuel—are already delaying technology purchases until prices come down in the US, the CTA reported. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2026

Bank of America’s card data from January through July 2026 show older households put a bigger share of their spending toward groceries, and a smaller share toward restaurants, gasoline, general merchandise, and clothing. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Because diesel powers the trucks that move goods across the country, higher oil prices hit every corner of the economy, making everything from groceries to clothing to household essentials more expensive. — Sanya Carley, Time, 7 Oct. 2026

The tax would apply to qualifying taxable purchases but would not apply to groceries, prescription medicine, rent or property taxes. — Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English grocerye, grosery "merchandise sold by wholesalers, the Grocers' Company of London," borrowed from Anglo-French grocerie, groserie, from groser "wholesale dealer in preserved foods, spices, wine, etc." + -ie -y entry 2 — more at grocer

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grocery

• do (one's) grocery shopping
• go grocery shopping
• grocery bag
• grocery cart
• grocery list
• grocery store

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Kids Definition

grocery

noun

gro·​cery ˈgrōs-(ə-)rē 

plural groceries

1

plural : food sold by a grocer

went out to buy the groceries

2

: a grocer's store