Did you know?
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
AFAR Media, 11 Apr. 2025
While processing that failure, Matt is given another case of the week to deal with: Leroy Bradford, charged with petty larceny after stealing caramel corn from a bodega.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
Some bodegas and food trucks are charging an extra dollar for a New York staple, the egg sandwich.
—Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
In New York City, some bodegas are even selling individual eggs.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 14 Feb. 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 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share