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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-02-22</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001573968</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bene Thomas</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>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18787</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>73089.46</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock units granted by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2013 Long Term Incentive Plan.  This award of restricted stock units was made in connection with the reporting person's promotion to President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2018, as previously announced in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Sysco Corporation on July 17, 2017.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gerald W. Clanton, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2018-02-22
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001573968
Bene Thomas
1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77077
0
1
0
0
President and CEO
Common Stock
2018-02-22
4
A
0
18787
0
A
73089.46
D
Restricted stock units granted by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2013 Long Term Incentive Plan.  This award of restricted stock units was made in connection with the reporting person's promotion to President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2018, as previously announced in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Sysco Corporation on July 17, 2017.
/s/ Gerald W. Clanton, Attorney-in-fact
2018-02-23