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
Jay McInerneySixth Avenue in midtown was once lined with convenient, low-priced delis, cafeterias, coffee shops, and the like.—Brendan Gill
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
Norman Kolpas … a neat, orderly, well-lighted place so clean you could eat deli off the floor … —Jack Fincher
—often used before another noun Jack Fincher 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
Another starter features perhaps the finest handshake of the two culinary traditions — a piece of bone marrow, wood-fired and infused with New York deli delicacies, pastrami and sauerkraut.
—Spencer Whaley, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Community members react as deli shut its doors After Miller announced the closure of V. Miller Meats, hundreds of comments flooded the business’ Facebook and Instagram feeds, with fans sharing their love and support.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacramento Bee, 9 Mar. 2025
The flip side There is a lovely lady at the Publix store on Clayton Crossing Way in Oviedo behind the deli counter.
—Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025
Rounding it all out are plenty of community amenities, which include 24-hour security, a pool, a fitness center, a marina, an Italian deli and market, and a private dog park.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deli
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Spencer Whaley, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Community members react as deli shut its doors After Miller announced the closure of V. Miller Meats, hundreds of comments flooded the business’ Facebook and Instagram feeds, with fans sharing their love and support.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacramento Bee, 9 Mar. 2025
The flip side There is a lovely lady at the Publix store on Clayton Crossing Way in Oviedo behind the deli counter.
—Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025
Rounding it all out are plenty of community amenities, which include 24-hour security, a pool, a fitness center, a marina, an Italian deli and market, and a private dog park.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deli
Cite this Entry
“Deli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deli. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
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