ENGLISH
REFERENCE

grocer

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈɡɹoʊsɝ// UK //ɡɹˈəʊsɐ// gro·cer

n. a person who owns or works in a shop that sells food and small items for the home. You usually visit them for things like fruit, vegetables, and canned goods.

n. a person who sells food and various household supplies at retail. Often refers to the owner of a small, independent shop rather than a large supermarket chain.


SIMPLE

The local grocer always has the freshest apples in town.

CONTEXTUAL

Before the large supermarket opened, every family in the village bought their supplies from the local grocer.

COMPLEX

Small-scale grocers often struggle to compete with the bulk pricing of national retailers, yet they maintain a loyal customer base through personalised service and high-quality local produce.

Origin

From Old French grossier (“wholesaler”) Compare gross.

Usage

Often used in the possessive form ('at the grocer's') to refer to the shop itself.

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