Phrase guide

brick and mortar

adj · noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Buildings and property for the conduct of business, particularly in the sale of retail goods to the general public. (Used to contrast an Internet-based sales operation that lacks customer-oriented store fronts and a "traditional" one for which most capital investment might be in the building infrastructure.)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: business

Examples

  • Brick and mortar retail stores face online competition.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see brick, and, mortar.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Buildings, especially domestic housing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see brick, and, mortar.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 實體的 /实体的 (shítǐ de) — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • Chinese Mandarin: 實體店 /实体店 (shítǐdiàn) — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • Czech: kamenný obchod — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • Finnish: toimitilat — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • Finnish: kivijalka- — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • German: konventionell — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • German: traditionell — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • Polish: fizyczny — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • Polish: tradycyjny — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • Portuguese: físico — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • Spanish: tradicional — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • Spanish: físico — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • Turkish: geleneksel — buildings and property for the conduct of a business
  • Turkish: konvansiyonel — buildings and property for the conduct of a business