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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
Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 12 Feb. 2026
Harvey wore the Saint Laurent L’entracte slingback pumps in a black satin crepe to the event, which turned a New York City bodega into a beauty activation for fans that then turned into an after-hours experience for stars like Lila Moss, Amelia Gray, Alex Consani, Nina Dobrev and more.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Ever the showman, the King of Latin Trap stage-dived into the hands of his energetic dancers, before the scenery shifted from the Jíbaro fields to the Nuevayol locales of a local bodega and barbershop.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2026
The same flowers rouged the edges of the road, where the resident Labrador mixes, Lulu and Mocio, led us back to the agriturismo’s bodega.
—Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bodega
Cite this Entry
“Bodega.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bodega. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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