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Apothecaries, Bodegas, and Boutiques
Apothecary, bodega, and boutique may not look very similar, but they are all related both in meaning and in origin. Each of these words can be traced back to a Latin word for “storehouse” (apotheca), and each one refers in English to a retail establishment of some sort. Although bodega initially meant “a storehouse for wine,” it now most commonly refers to a grocery store in an urban area, especially one that specializes in Hispanic groceries. Boutique has also taken on new meanings: its first sense in English (“a small retail store”) is still current, but it now may also denote “a small company that offers highly specialized products or services.” Of the three words, apothecary has changed the least; it has gone from referring solely to the person who sells drugs or medicines to also naming the store where such goods are sold.
Examples of bodega in a Sentence
Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 July 2025
In 2017, the former bodega worker was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 21 July 2025
Packed with style, each silhouette is sure to add a special hit of energy to your vacations and perhaps even a walk to the bodega.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 9 July 2025
The 15-year-old was chased by members of the Trinitarios gang into a Bronx bodega and viciously attacked with knives and machetes in a case of mistaken identity.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bodega
Cite this Entry
“Bodega.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bodega. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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