Definition of the word shopping list

The term "shopping list" can be traced back to the early 20th century when grocery stores started appearing in urban areas. Prior to this, people would typically purchase items at local markets or shops, often buying only what they needed for the week or for specific meals. As grocery stores became more popular, they began offering a wider variety of products, making it necessary for customers to remember a longer and more detailed list of items. To help with this, some stores provided customers with pre-printed lists of common items, called "catalogs," that they could consult while browsing the aisles. By the 1920s, the phrase "shopping list" was being used to describe a personal handwritten list created by the customer, containing all the items they needed to buy, based on their own preferences and home inventory. This list could be used in conjunction with the store's catalog or, by the 1950s, when supermarkets became widespread, with a store map provided by the store itself. The convenience and organization provided by shopping lists have since become an integral part of the modern shopping experience, thanks to paper lists, smartphone apps, and digital shopping carts. Many people continue to create shopping lists in advance, not just for groceries, but for other items as well, which has led to the popular phrase "shop till you drop" being redefined as "shop till you check everything off your list."