charcuterie

noun

char·​cu·​te·​rie (ˌ)shär-ˌkü-tə-ˈrē 

1

a

: cooked or cured meat products (such as salami or prosciutto) that are usually served cold

… we nibbled on rich charcuterie from Béarn, in southwest France, served with slices of warm … bread. There were rillettes of goose, a pork pâté, and … blood sausage.

—Jeffrey Steingarten

… all manner of charcuterie—from wing-shaped pancetta to whole-leg hams …

—Michelle Huneven

… hit the shops in Beaune for a fresh baguette, charcuterie and cheese, and make a picnic of it …

—Harvey Steiman

b

or charcuterie board : a selection of charcuterie accompanied by other foods (such as cheese, nuts, fruit, crackers, or bread) and served usually on a board

The charcuterie is quite the sight with cured meats, cheeses, homemade pickles and spreads (of course) with sourdough.

—Robyn George

… charcuterie boards feature a variety of cold cuts and cured meats, cheese, crackers, bread, fruits and nuts that are served on a wooden board or stone slab.

—Nandini Ganguly

A charcuterie board, for instance, comes with capocollo, Genoa salami, cured duck, mustard, a popover, maple-smoked cheddar and rustic black-pepper crackers …

—Mabel Suen

It's no secret that the grocery store's selection of cheese, crackers, meats, fruits, pickles and other charcuterie goodies is abundant.

—Justine Lee

c

: the culinary art of preparing and serving charcuterie

… newfound enthusiasm for the old-world art of charcuterie means that cured meats of all kinds will be arriving on a menu near you …

—Margo Leach

2

plural charcuteries : a shop specializing in charcuterie

This butcher shop and grocery store is the closest thing New York has to a French charcuterie.

—Mimi Sheraton

With just a few hours' notice, this … charcuterie will customize any picnic lunch or dinner you please.

—Jonna Veitch Carls

Examples of charcuterie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pauley, with his accordion, and his daughter and son as co-managers made for a delightful atmosphere, The charcuterie and bruschetta were superb preparations for any of the excellent entrees. —Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026

Cheese and charcuterie included, $75. —Laura Ness, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026

The conversation and the wine are flowing, and the charcuterie is a smash hit. —Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026

When the sun goes down, artist-types start to congregate outside the Owl Bar, where night-skiers drink beer in their boots and bibs and friend groups of 20-somethings in fur coats and cowgirl boots chat over charcuterie and wine. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, pork-butcher's shop, from Middle French chaircuiterie, from chaircutier pork butcher, from chair cuite cooked meat

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for charcuterie

• kashmiri
• beery
• bleary
• cheery
• cirri
• dearie
• deary
• dreary
• eerie
• kiri
• leary
• leery