grocer

IPA/ˈɡrəʊsə(r)/
KK[ɡrˈosɚ]IPA/ˈɡrəʊsər/

grocer — noun

  • grocersingular
  • grocersplural

1. someone whose job it is to sell food and everyday household items, such as soap,

1.nounB1
Definition

someone whose job it is to sell food and everyday household items, such as soap, cleaning products, and kitchen supplies, from a small shop or store.

Example

Shanti asked the local grocer whether they had any fresh basil.

collocation: local grocer

After working as a grocer for thirty years, Anna still enjoyed chatting with customers.

collocation: as a grocer

Common collocations
  • local grocer
  • corner grocer
  • neighbourhood grocer
  • family grocer
  • the grocer on + [street name]
Synonyms
  • shopkeeper

    broader term — covers any shop owner, not specifically a food shop

  • store owner

    neutral, more common in American English; does not specify what kind of store

  • retail merchant

    formal; rarely used in everyday conversation

Antonyms
  • customer

    a person who buys from the grocer

  • shopper

    someone who visits a shop to buy goods

Grammar Patterns

a + grocer

the + grocer

grocer + verb

Usage Note

In British English, the shop itself is often called the grocer's (e.g., 'I'm going to the grocer's'). In American English, the building is usually called a grocery store or supermarket, while grocer refers only to the person.

Common Mistakes

I bought milk from the grocer.' (meaning the shop)
I bought milk from the grocer's / the grocery store.
In British English, add an apostrophe-s ('the grocer's') to refer to the shop; in American English, use 'grocery store' instead.
The grocer is a shop that sells food.
The grocer is the person who sells food.
'Grocer' refers to a person, not the building.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Grocer specifically refers to someone selling food and basic household supplies — the most common everyday shopping context for learners. Shopkeeper is a broader term covering anyone who runs a shop, regardless of what they sell. Greengrocer is narrower: a person who sells only fruits and vegetables, not packaged goods or household items. Store owner is more neutral and common in American English, but it does not specify what kind of store. Retailer is formal and general — it applies to any business that sells goods directly to consumers, from a small corner shop to a large chain. For example: 'The local grocer ordered extra rice before the holiday.' vs. 'The shopkeeper across the street sells stationery and gifts.' vs. 'The greengrocer had beautiful mangoes this morning.'

shopkeeper ↗greengrocerstore ownerretailer ↗

Etymology

Old FrenchAnglo-NormanMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word grocer comes from the Old French grossier, meaning 'a wholesale merchant' — someone who buys and sells goods in large quantities. Grossier itself comes from gros, meaning 'large.' In medieval Europe, a grossier was a trader who bought bulk shipments of spices, sugar, dried fruits, and other imported goods, then sold smaller amounts to local shops. Over time, the focus shifted from wholesale to retail, and the modern meaning of a person who sells food and household supplies in a shop became standard.