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

While the Katz’s menu offers tuna fish, burgers, and even a cheesesteak, stick to the deli classics like pastrami, corned beef, and beef tongue sandwiches. —Devra Ferst, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2026

But in truth, her recipe originally came from a Palm Beach, Florida, deli. —Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2026

With fan-favorite sticky wings, matzo ball soup, soft serve, tasting menus and an opening incarnation as a casual deli, Yangban (formerly Yangban Society) lived multiple lives in its two-year run. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025

Fernando Mateo, a former Republican candidate for mayor who co-founded the United Bodegas of America association of small deli owners, said people opposed to Mamdani will have to see which policies actually go into effect. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 28 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