deli

noun

ˈde-lē 

plural delis

: 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

In a city packed with world-class delis, this blast-from-the-past never disappoints. —Leslie Kelly, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

On top of that, a deli counter must have permits and compliance documents. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 23 June 2025

The city’s Save-a-Lot on Burlington Street doesn’t have common features such as a deli, according to Nakahodo. —Alecia Taylor, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2025

Talk is also burgeoning about going to a nearby deli together after the meeting for lunch. —Lynda Lin Grigsby, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025

Word History

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