Store-bought

Store-bought describes something, usually food or other consumer goods, that has been purchased from a retail store, rather than being homemade or produced independently. It implies a level of convenience and potentially mass-produced origins. The term often carries a connotation of being less personal or of lower quality compared to a handmade or handcrafted alternative. The quality associated with the item can be subjective and vary depending on the item itself and individual preference. It is a common phrase used when comparing something obtained from a store versus something made at home, and thus is used across multiple contexts in daily life. This term can also be used in the context of services and software, which are sold in store form or from commercial applications.

Store-bought meaning with examples

• The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen, a stark contrast to the stale scent emanating from the store-bought loaf my neighbor was eating. The taste of homemade bread is a million times better than the one from the local grocery store. She opted for a store-bought birthday cake for her son's party, knowing her time was already stretched thin with other preparations and errands.
• Instead of spending hours crafting invitations, she chose store-bought ones to save time. The intricate details on the store-bought invitations were perfect and made it easier to pick than trying to design my own. It was a big decision for her given her history of creating beautiful handcrafted items herself. Despite this, it saved her a lot of time.
• He considered making his own pickles, but ultimately bought store-bought jars because the price was right, and he didn't want to mess up the recipe. The convenience was the deciding factor. Even though the store-bought ones probably weren't as good. Even though it was a simple recipe he didn't want to mess with it.
• For convenience, she installed store-bought antivirus software to protect her computer. It was much easier than trying to understand all the open-source security software. Despite the need to renew every year, she opted for this due to the ease of installation and use.