<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096021</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYSCO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SYY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184676</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH STEPHEN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77077-2099</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP, Foodservice Ops</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>76205.3319</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">&quot;Exit&quot; Form 4 voluntarily filed solely to report that, although the filer still holds the office indicated in Box 5 above, the filer is no longer a Section 16 reporting person as of May 12, 2006.  The number of securities reported above reflects the filer's ownership as of the filing date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stephen F. Smith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-06-09
1
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001184676
SMITH STEPHEN F
1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77077-2099
0
1
0
0
Sr VP, Foodservice Ops
Common Stock
76205.3319
D
"Exit" Form 4 voluntarily filed solely to report that, although the filer still holds the office indicated in Box 5 above, the filer is no longer a Section 16 reporting person as of May 12, 2006.  The number of securities reported above reflects the filer's ownership as of the filing date.
Stephen F. Smith
2006-06-09