shopkeeper

shopkeeper — noun

1. a person who runs a small shop as the owner and person in charge, taking care of

1.nounB2
Definition

a person who runs a small shop as the owner and person in charge, taking care of the goods, money, and customers

Example

Bilal has worked as a shopkeeper in his village for over twenty years.

The shopkeeper greeted every customer with a friendly smile.

article + shopkeeper + verb + object pattern

Common collocations
  • local shopkeeper
  • village shopkeeper
  • friendly shopkeeper
  • corner-shop shopkeeper
  • family shopkeeper
Synonyms
  • shop owner

    emphasises ownership more than daily management; can refer to owners of larger shops too

  • retailer

    more formal; covers anyone selling goods to the public, from small shops to large chains

  • storekeeper

    American English equivalent; also used for someone in charge of supplies

  • merchant

    more formal or old-fashioned; often implies selling goods in bulk or at a market

Usage Note

In British English, 'shopkeeper' is the standard term for someone who runs a small shop. In American English, 'storekeeper' or 'shop owner' is more commonly used.

Common Mistakes

The shopkeeper helped me find a shirt' (when referring to a sales employee).
The sales assistant helped me find a shirt.
a 'shopkeeper' owns or runs the shop, while a 'sales assistant' or 'shop assistant' is an employee serving customers.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words describe people involved in selling goods, but they differ in scope and register. 'Shopkeeper' is the most specific term — it describes a person who both owns and runs a small shop, handling daily operations like stocking shelves and serving customers. 'Shop owner' focuses on ownership rather than daily management; a shop owner may employ staff to run the shop. 'Retailer' is a broader, more formal term that covers anyone selling goods to the public, from a street stall to a supermarket. 'Storekeeper' is the American English equivalent of shopkeeper and can also refer to someone who manages supplies in a warehouse or military base. 'Merchant' is the most formal and historically rooted term, often suggesting trade in bulk goods or an older, established trading business. For everyday conversation about a person who runs a small local shop, 'shopkeeper' (or 'storekeeper' in US) is the natural choice: 'The shopkeeper knew every customer by name.'

shopkeeper ↗shop ownerretailer ↗storekeepermerchant ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • corner shop
  • village store
  • high street
  • family business
  • local community

Phrases

  • run a shop
  • keep a shop

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Shopkeeper' combines the word 'shop' (which comes from Old English 'sceoppa', meaning a booth or stall where goods are sold) with 'keeper' (from the verb 'keep' plus the agent suffix '-er', meaning a person who looks after or manages something). The compound has been used in English since the 1500s to describe a person who owns or manages a shop.