scampi

American

[skam-pee, skahm-] / ˈskæm pi, ˈskɑm- /

noun

Italian Cooking.

a large shrimp or prawn.
a dish of shrimp or prawns grilled or sautéed in oil or butter and garlic.

scampi British

/ ˈskæmpɪ /

noun

(usually functioning as singular) large prawns, usually eaten fried in breadcrumbs

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of scampi

1920–25; < Italian, plural of scampo

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.

Shrimp scampi was one of the most profitable dishes to serve.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Kristin McGrath, a senior editor for the deal-hunting site The Krazy Coupon Lady, recommends going for the coconut shrimp or shrimp scampi and passing on the shrimp linguini alfredo.

From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026

The date didn’t start well: a waiter spilled shrimp scampi on her.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

For $20, guests could choose unlimited garlic shrimp scampi, coconut shrimp, shrimp linguini alfredo and plenty more... it's truly too good of a deal to pass on!

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2023

Danny'd ordered scampi, bread, and a side salad to build a sandwich.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023