deli
Americannoun
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a delicatessen.
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food typically sold at a delicatessen, as cold cuts, salads, and pickles.
noun
Etymology
Origin of deli
First recorded in 1950–55; by shortening
Explanation
A deli is a market where you can buy prepared food or shop for staples including meat and cheese. You might have a favorite neighborhood deli where you go every morning for a bagel and coffee. The word deli is a shortened form, or common nickname, of delicatessen, an American English version of the German delikatessen, the plural of delikatesse, "delicacy," or "fine food." Many delis specialize in the food of a certain region, country, or ethnicity — like a Jewish deli, a German deli, or a Greek deli. You can usually buy sandwiches, salads, drinks, and specialty foods at delis.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“We aren’t quite sure” what to expect next, Nava said, noting that her family took over the deli in late 2024.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
A pinch of celery seed for that classic deli whisper.
From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026
According to Puerta, North was seriously injured late last year when he was hit by a car as he walked into Fromin’s deli in Santa Monica.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
As a candidate, Fulop had a compelling back story: The Jersey native was the son of Jewish immigrants who ran a deli.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
Mr. Georgiou was covered in weeping sores and black bile dribbled from his nostrils, but he was still the person who'd helped us ever since we'd opened the deli.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
