delicacy
Americannoun
-
fineness of texture, quality, etc.; softness; daintiness.
the delicacy of lace.
- Antonyms:
- coarseness
-
something delightful or pleasing, especially a choice food considered with regard to its rarity, costliness, or the like.
Caviar is a great delicacy.
-
the quality of being easily broken or damaged; fragility.
-
the quality of requiring or involving great care or tact.
negotiations of great delicacy.
-
extreme sensitivity; precision of action or operation; minute accuracy.
the delicacy of a skillful surgeon's touch; a watch mechanism of unusual delicacy.
- Synonyms:
- discrimination, sensitivity, circumspection, consideration, prudence
-
fineness of perception or feeling; sensitiveness.
the delicacy of the pianist's playing.
- Antonyms:
- coarseness
-
fineness of feeling with regard to what is fitting, proper, etc..
Delicacy would not permit her to be rude.
-
sensitivity with regard to the feelings of others.
She criticized him with such delicacy that he was not offended.
-
bodily weakness; liability to sickness; frailty.
-
Linguistics. (especially in systemic linguistics) the degree of minuteness pursued at a given stage of analysis in specifying distinctions in linguistic description.
-
Obsolete. sensuous indulgence; luxury.
noun
-
fine or subtle quality, character, construction, etc
delicacy of craftsmanship
-
fragile, soft, or graceful beauty
-
something that is considered choice to eat, such as caviar
-
fragile construction or constitution; frailty
-
refinement of feeling, manner, or appreciation
the delicacy of the orchestra's playing
-
fussy or squeamish refinement, esp in matters of taste, propriety, etc
-
need for tactful or sensitive handling
-
accuracy or sensitivity of response or operation, as of an instrument
-
(in systemic grammar) the level of detail at which a linguistic description is made; the degree of fine distinction in a linguistic description
-
obsolete gratification, luxury, or voluptuousness
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of delicacy
First recorded in 1325–75, delicacy is from the Middle English word delicasie. See delicate, -cy
Explanation
A ballerina's quick, perfect steps? An antique porcelain teacup? A tiny sentence etched inside a silver locket? All of these have delicacy, or fineness that comes from being light, beautiful, or small. A delicacy can also be a prized dish that is eaten on special occasions or is especially loved by those in a certain culture or place. But what is a delicacy to some (chocolate-covered crickets, anyone?) might disgust others. Remember to use delicacy, or tact, in turning down someone else's delicacies. This could help you avoid hurting someone's feelings.
Vocabulary lists containing delicacy
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 3
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Power Suffix: -acy
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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.
See Examples For:
Shark sandwich is a local delicacy, he explains.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
The delicacy infused with beneficial bacteria remains a traditional Japanese breakfast staple, but their pungent aroma, viscous texture and yeasty taste divide even their homeland.
From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026
Welcome to Indian mango season in America, when a devoted and slightly unhinged community descends into a collective frenzy over a delicacy that most of their neighbors have never tasted.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
He also told the crowd of a new delicacy he discovered: white grapes dipped in spicy Dijon mustard.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2026
Deftly, with a delicacy surprising in such a big man, he began to scrape away the black leaves and dried blue mud from Drogo's chest.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Show off your knowledge of regional delicacies with our state foods quiz, and be sure to share it with fellow foodies to see who knows the most about America’s traditional eats.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
The animal, one of the world's most endangered and trafficked mammals, has been stripped of its scales and is being advertised by a Thai account selling "seasonal wild delicacies".
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
Chris, it turns out, has given up his career as an administrative lawyer for a life of fine dining and epicurean delicacies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026
Other Chicago delicacies have entire guides devoted to them — the best hot dog stand, a giardiniera ranking, a breakdown of deep-dish versus tavern-style pizza.
From Salon ● Dec. 7, 2025
The guests wandered around, choosing delicacies brought to them on trays by the maids.
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
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.
