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

Ants are eaten, sometimes even valued as a delicacy, in several Asian, African and Latin American cultures.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

There was always some little delicacy, very special and good—foie gras or a tossed salad, pastry bought at Lang’s Bakery just across Main Street.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Guests stroll into blacksmith shops and corn mills, dine on cinnamon bread and other local delicacies, and seek quiet time in an authentic Appalachian chapel.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

It features plenty of glistening seafood, market produce and local delicacies, alongside Tucci telling the story of a people for whom family and rituals hold communities together.

From BBC ● May 9, 2026

And at times “Kenrex” verges on caricature in its depiction of rural life as a lawless Wild Midwest, garnished by such down-home delicacies as “a deep fried barbecue chili cheese dog with bacon crumbles.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 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

Madam’s list of required delicacies was endless: gingerbread, pies of brandied peaches and preserved cherries and mincemeat, macaroons, blancmange, Jordan almonds, sugar candy, as many kinds of cake as there were fingers on both hands.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

• elegance
• fragility
• lightness
• subtlety
• tenderness