deli

noun

ˈde-lē 

plural delis

: a store or department of a store where ready-to-eat food products (such as cooked meats and prepared salads) are sold : delicatessen

You shuffle off to the deli and pick up a pastrami-on-rye and an egg cream. The bald man behind the counter whistles cheerfully as he slices the meat.

—Jay McInerney

Sixth Avenue in midtown was once lined with convenient, low-priced delis, cafeterias, coffee shops, and the like.

—Brendan Gill

also : the food sold at a delicatessen

If you're hungry for deli in Miami, only the Rascal House will do.

—Norman Kolpas

… a neat, orderly, well-lighted place so clean you could eat deli off the floor …

—Jack Fincher

—often used before another noun

deli meats/platters

waiting in line at the deli counter

Examples of deli in a Sentence

We bought sandwiches and drinks at the deli.

Recent Examples on the Web

Not only is Beans an eatery – featuring mainly vegetarian and vegan fare – but also a catering business, deli and gift shop. —Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 10 Dec. 2025

Costco has issued an alert to customers recalling specific batches of Caesar Salad and Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad sold in the chain’s food court and deli. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2025

Officers were initially dispatched to the scene after receiving a call regarding a man standing in the deli’s parking lot with blood on his hands and clothing, FOX 5 reported. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025

The new outpost will mark the Ace of Cakes star’s first savory restaurant with a menu inspired by the traditional Jewish delis and food items of his upbringing. —Emily Rella, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

short for delicatessen

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for deli

• belly
• felly
• jelly
• kellie
• melly
• nellie
• nelly
• shelly
• skelly
• smellie
• smelly
• tele

Kids Definition

deli

noun

ˈdel-ē 

plural delis

: delicatessen sense 2