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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-04-15</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001422763</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Koerber Hans-Joachim</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77077</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-04-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>46.49</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52495.928</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the Reporting Person on March 11, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported is a weighted average sale price per share of the 10,000 shares sold on this date.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $46.34 to $46.64. The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to Sysco Corporation, any security holder of Sysco Corporation, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within ranges set forth in the footnote to this Form 4.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gerald W. Clanton, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-04-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2016-04-15
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001422763
Koerber Hans-Joachim
1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77077
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2016-04-15
4
S
0
10000
46.49
D
52495.928
D
The sales were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the Reporting Person on March 11, 2016.
The price reported is a weighted average sale price per share of the 10,000 shares sold on this date.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $46.34 to $46.64. The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to Sysco Corporation, any security holder of Sysco Corporation, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within ranges set forth in the footnote to this Form 4.
/s/ Gerald W. Clanton, attorney-in-fact
2016-04-19