delicacy

American  

[del-i-kuh-see] / ˈdɛl ɪ kə si /

noun

• delicacies
  plural

1. fineness of texture, quality, etc.; softness; daintiness.

   the delicacy of lace.

   Antonyms:

   coarseness

2. something delightful or pleasing, especially a choice food considered with regard to its rarity, costliness, or the like.

   Caviar is a great delicacy.

3. the quality of being easily broken or damaged; fragility.

4. the quality of requiring or involving great care or tact.

   negotiations of great delicacy.

5. 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

6. fineness of perception or feeling; sensitiveness.

   the delicacy of the pianist's playing.

   Antonyms:

   coarseness

7. fineness of feeling with regard to what is fitting, proper, etc..

   Delicacy would not permit her to be rude.

8. sensitivity with regard to the feelings of others.

   She criticized him with such delicacy that he was not offended.

9. bodily weakness; liability to sickness; frailty.

10. Linguistics. (especially in systemic linguistics) the degree of minuteness pursued at a given stage of analysis in specifying distinctions in linguistic description.

11. Obsolete. sensuous indulgence; luxury.

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delicacy British  

/ ˈdɛlɪkəsɪ /

noun

1. fine or subtle quality, character, construction, etc

   delicacy of craftsmanship

2. fragile, soft, or graceful beauty

3. something that is considered choice to eat, such as caviar

4. fragile construction or constitution; frailty

5. refinement of feeling, manner, or appreciation

   the delicacy of the orchestra's playing

6. fussy or squeamish refinement, esp in matters of taste, propriety, etc

7. need for tactful or sensitive handling

8. accuracy or sensitivity of response or operation, as of an instrument

9. (in systemic grammar) the level of detail at which a linguistic description is made; the degree of fine distinction in a linguistic description

10. obsolete gratification, luxury, or voluptuousness

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hyperdelicacy
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• delicacies
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

delicacy delicacies

The more I looked into the cult of Cane’s, the more I understood how the country’s most obsessed-over digit-shaped delicacy took America by storm, slowly and then all at once.

From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026

The director, Jack Serio, who brought a similar delicacy and grace to his work on Mr. Weiler’s prior play, draws equally fine performances from Mr. Simons and Ms. Finn.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

But when Kore-eda’s execution isn’t as assured, as is the case with his latest, all that delicacy simply floats off into the ether, rarely amounting to much more than a halfhearted shrug.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

Their meat is a delicacy widely eaten locally, while their fins command high prices in international markets.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

“I was referring to the delicacy of our personal relationship.”

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

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

Last year’s gnome sported a teal polo and held a peach ice cream sandwich, one of the tournament delicacies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 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 smell of burgers, brats and other grilled delicacies wafted through the air as children played football on the grass and a nearby patch of dirt.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 22, 2025

People are also guided by seemingly arbitrary cultural preferences, such as considering fish either delicacies or taboo.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• elegance
• fragility
• lightness
• subtlety
• tenderness