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.
Free food: Receive dry goods and fresh produce at this walk-up distribution offered by Feeding San Diego at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 30 at the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road. Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 July 2025 Each container can hold up to 16 cups of dry goods and is made from BPA-free, 360-degree clear plastic for easy visibility and convenience. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2025 Before buying Shillito’s, Macy’s was R.H. Macy & Co., a dry goods store in New York City. Emily Steinberger, Fortune, 4 July 2025 Free food: Receive dry goods and fresh produce at this walk-up distribution offered by Feeding San Diego at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 16 at the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road. Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 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 30 Jul. 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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