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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-12-02</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001795370</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Foster Michael P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77077</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28026</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28026</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>80.55</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>129113</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2029-12-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>129113</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>129113</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock units granted by the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan.  This award of restricted stock units was made in connection with the reporting person's hiring as the Company's Executive Vice President, Chief Information and Technology Officer effective December 2, 2019.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">One-third of the shares covered by the grant vest and are exercisable on 12/2/2020, 12/2/2021 and 12/2/2022, respectively. No options may be exercised prior to 12/2/2020.  Options will expire on 12/1/2029.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options granted by the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Gerald W. Clanton, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-12-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2019-12-02
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001795370
Foster Michael P
1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77077
0
1
0
0
Executive Vice President
Common Stock
2019-12-02
4
A
0
28026
0
A
28026
D
Stock Options (Right to buy)
80.55
2019-12-02
4
A
0
129113
0
A
2029-12-01
Common Stock
129113
129113
D
Restricted stock units granted by the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan.  This award of restricted stock units was made in connection with the reporting person's hiring as the Company's Executive Vice President, Chief Information and Technology Officer effective December 2, 2019.
One-third of the shares covered by the grant vest and are exercisable on 12/2/2020, 12/2/2021 and 12/2/2022, respectively. No options may be exercised prior to 12/2/2020.  Options will expire on 12/1/2029.
Options granted by the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
/s/Gerald W. Clanton, Attorney-in-fact
2019-12-04