grocery
/ˈɡrəʊ.səri/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Food and other household items sold in a shop, especially in a grocery store. In everyday English, it often means these items as a group, or the shop itself in some phrases.
- I need to buy some groceries after work.
- The grocery near our house closes at 9 p.m.
- She picked up milk and bread at the grocery.
Adinary Nuance
Grocery is close to food, provisions, and supplies, but it is more everyday and practical. Use food for what you eat, and grocery for the shopping or store context. In English, groceries usually means the items you buy, not just the store.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- đồ tạp hóa
- Spanish
- comestibles
- Chinese
- 杂货
- Japanese
- 食料雑貨
- Korean
- 식료품
Etymology
Grocery comes from Old French grocer, meaning a wholesaler or retailer. It entered English in the Middle Ages and later became linked to food shops and food items.
Common phrases
grocery storegrocery shoppinggrocery listgrocery bill
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between grocery and food?
- Food means anything you eat. Grocery usually means food bought from a shop, or the shop itself.
- Is grocery singular or plural?
- Grocery is usually singular. Groceries is more common when you mean the items you buy.
- Can I say 'I went to the grocery'?
- Yes, in some English varieties. More often, people say 'the grocery store' or 'the supermarket'.
- Is grocery used in business writing?
- Yes, especially in phrases like 'grocery store' and 'grocery sales'.