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
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
For Brian Reid's business, Deli Lites, it provided an opportunity to win significant new customers.
From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026
Kraft Heinz has reduced prices on its Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh products and Maxwell House coffee.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
His mother worked at Canter’s Deli down the street from Johnie’s.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
“Rob Reiner really was a friend of Katz’s Deli in so many ways,” Dell said to The Hollywood Reporter.
From Salon • Dec. 17, 2025
All she had to do was walk over to Spicer’s Deli!
From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt
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.
