# grocer

/ˈɡɹoʊsɝ/ (US) · /ɡɹˈəʊsɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grocer
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The local grocer always has the freshest apples in town.
- Before the large supermarket opened, every family in the village bought their supplies from the local grocer.
- 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.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.