1
: grocery items (such as tobacco, sugar, flour, and coffee) that do not contain liquid
2
: textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and notions as distinguished especially from hardware and groceries

Examples of dry goods in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Decant dry goods into clear, airtight storage containers that stack. Maryal Miller Carter, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2025 The other one strutted on a box of gravy packets in the kitchen’s dry goods area. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025 Cleaning chemicals were stored on top of and around dry goods on a storage shelf. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025 The Starbucks near the home plate entrance does brisk business; there are plans for a dry goods store as well as a Lucchese Boot Co. in the repurposed concourse. Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dry goods

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of dry goods was in 1657

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Cite this Entry

“Dry goods.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry%20goods. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

dry goods

plural noun
: cloth goods (as fabrics, lace, and ribbon)

More from Merriam-Webster on dry goods

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