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Definition of shopkeep

shopkeep

/ˈʃɑːpˌkiːp/
shop · keep
Plural:shopkeeps
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shopkeep Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A person who owns or manages a small retail store; a shopkeeper.

Example

"The friendly shopkeep behind the wooden counter offered the travelers a discount on provisions."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for shopkeep
Antonyms
View all antonyms for shopkeep

Word Nuance & Usage

"Shopkeep" is an informal, dialectal, or archaic shortening of "shopkeeper," today encountered most frequently in historical fiction, fantasy settings, or as a direct vocative form of address.

• Nearby Words

shopfloor
shopfront
shopgirl
shopkeep
shopkeeper
shopkeeping
shoplift

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 19th century as a colloquial shortening or back-formation from "shopkeeper," combining "shop" (from Old English sceoppa) and "keep" (from Old English cepan).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shopkeep. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shopkeep
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