A person who owns or works in a grocery store, selling food and household items.
From 'grocery' (from Old French 'grosserie' meaning 'wholesale trade'), combined with the agent suffix '-er.' Originally, a grocer was someone who dealt in goods 'en gros' (in bulk).
Your local grocer was once a powerful person in communities—they controlled food access and credit, essentially deciding who ate during hard times, which is why grocers appear in so much literature and folklore!
Historically coded male (shopkeeper role); female equivalent was 'groceress' or absent. Reflects occupational gender stratification of 19th–20th centuries.
Use 'grocer' neutrally today, but be aware historical records may conflate occupation with gender.
["grocery merchant","store operator"]
Women ran grocery businesses widely but were often listed under husband's names in records; centering women grocers restores economic history.
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