delivery

American  

[dih-liv-uh-ree] / dɪˈlɪv ə ri /

noun

deliveries plural

1. the carrying and turning over of letters, goods, etc., to a designated recipient or recipients.

2. a giving up or handing over; surrender.

3. the utterance or enunciation of words.

4. vocal and bodily behavior during the presentation of a speech.

   a speaker's fine delivery.

5. the act or manner of giving or sending forth.

   the pitcher's fine delivery of the ball.

6. the state of being delivered of or giving birth to a child; parturition.

7. something delivered.

   The delivery is late today.

8. Commerce. a shipment of goods from the seller to the buyer.

9. Law. a formal act performed to make a transfer of property legally effective.

   a delivery of deed.

10. Also called delivery end.  Printing. the part of a printing press where the paper emerges in printed form.

11. Archaic. release or rescue; liberation; deliverance.

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delivery British  

/ dɪˈlɪvərɪ /

noun

1. 1. the act of delivering or distributing goods, mail, etc

   2. something that is delivered

   3. ( as modifier )

      a delivery service

2. the act of giving birth to a child

   she had an easy delivery

3. manner or style of utterance, esp in public speaking or recitation

   the chairman had a clear delivery

4. the act of giving or transferring or the state of being given or transferred

5. the act of rescuing or state of being rescued; liberation

6. sport

   1. the act or manner of bowling or throwing a ball

   2. the ball so delivered

      a fast delivery

7. an actual or symbolic handing over of property, a deed, etc

8. the discharge rate of a compressor or pump

9. (in South Africa) the supply of basic services to communities deprived under apartheid

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• misdelivery
  noun
• postdelivery
  adjective
• nondelivery
  noun
• redelivery
  noun
• predelivery
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• deliveries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of delivery

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English delyvere, delyvery, from Anglo-French delivrée, noun use of feminine past participle of delivrer “to deliver,” with suffix assimilated to -ery; see deliver

Explanation

When you make a delivery, you bring something somewhere. A delivery can be in the form of something physical, as when you receive a delivery in the mail, or verbal, as in the delivery of a speech or address. Delivery once could only mean "the action of handing something to another," but it has a long history of being applied in other ways. The idea of childbirth as being a delivery came about in the 1570's, while the term was applied to a punch in the 1580's, and to throwing a ball in 1702. A verbal delivery is the manner in which a speech is presented. As a comedian, you know the importance of a good delivery — timing the punchline just right.

Example Sentences

It has since made regular successful cargo delivery missions.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

Brock, ruling that local delivery drivers cannot be forced into private arbitration for employment disputes.

From Slate • Jun. 3, 2026

The Chinese shopping-and-delivery platform also stands to gain from improved margins as key competitors reduce subsidies and redirect resources away from food delivery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

According to new rules that took effect on Monday, shop listings on food delivery apps will need to match physical stores, and vendors have to indicate if they do not offer dine-in services.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

I got back to the lounge area around the same time as my sister—I guess she got a delivery too.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

• consignment
• distribution
• shipment
• transmission