Walmart
Walmart (noun) means a large American discount retail chain that sells groceries alongside general merchandise, with stores across several countries. Example: “They picked up school supplies and cereal in the same trip to Walmart.”
How to use Walmart
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe retail giant itself, or, used as a verb, either shopping there or crushing smaller rivals through sheer scale.
The verb uses are casual and mostly conversational, not standard formal English.
Word forms
Walmarted past tense, Walmarts plural, Walmarts singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They picked up school supplies and cereal in the same trip to _____.
Etymology
Believed to come from "Walton's Market", after founder Sam Walton; the company traded as Wal-Mart before simplifying its name to Walmart.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Walmart” mean?
The word “Walmart” means a large American discount retail chain that sells groceries alongside general merchandise, with stores across several countries. In plain terms, the retail giant itself, or, used as a verb, either shopping there or crushing smaller rivals through sheer scale.
How do you use “Walmart” in a sentence?
Here is “Walmart” used in a sentence: “They picked up school supplies and cereal in the same trip to Walmart.”
What part of speech is “Walmart”?
Depending on how it is used, “Walmart” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “Walmart” a common word?
“Walmart” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Walmart” have?
“Walmart” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large American discount retail chain that sells groceries alongside general merchandise, with stores across several countries.
Is 'Walmart' ever used as a verb?
Yes, informally. It can mean to shop at a Walmart store, or to drive smaller competitors out of business through sheer size and low prices. In formal writing it stays a proper noun and brand name.
How is Walmart different from an ordinary supermarket?
A traditional supermarket mainly sells groceries, whereas Walmart sells groceries alongside general merchandise such as clothing, electronics, and household goods. Offering this mix of goods under one roof is a defining feature of the chain.
Should 'Walmart' be capitalised?
Yes. As the name of a specific company it is a proper noun and is written with a capital W. Even the informal verb uses normally keep the capital because they still refer to the brand.
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