English · Word Candidate

grocery

/ˈɡɹəʊ.s(ə.)ɹi/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: groceries · grocerying · groceried

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Retail foodstuffs and other household supplies.

Noun

Examples

1776: Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations Where ten thousand pounds can be employed in the grocery trade, the wages of the grocer's labour make but a very trifling addition...

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A shop or store that sells groceries; a grocery store.

Noun

Examples

1854: Henry David Thoreau, Walden I observed that the vitals of the village were the grocery, the bar-room, the post-office, and the bank...

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To go grocery shopping.

Verb

Examples

We shopped and groceried on a cash basis, determined on that from the start.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To furnish with groceries.

Verb

Examples

Fifty-eight years of grocerying hotels, restaurants and institutions that feed many people

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “grocery” mean?

Retail foodstuffs and other household supplies.

Is “grocery” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.