dessert

noun

des·​sert di-ˈzərt 

1

: a usually sweet course or dish (as of pastry or ice cream) usually served at the end of a meal

2

British : a fresh fruit served after a sweet course

Did you know?

Where does the phrase just deserts come from?

Why do we say that someone has gotten their just deserts? Does this turn of phrase have anything to do with dessert (“a sweet food eaten at the end of a meal”) or desert (“a dry land with few plants and little rainfall”)? In fact, the phrase employs neither of these words. Instead, it uses a completely unrelated word that happens to be pronounced like the word for sweets and spelled like the one for a dry place: desert, meaning “reward or punishment deserved or earned by one’s qualities or acts.” This little-used noun is, as you might have guessed, related to the English verb deserve. It has nothing to do with arid, dry land, or with cookies and ice cream.

Examples of dessert in a Sentence

She doesn't care for rich desserts.

Coffee and tea will be served with dessert.

We had ice cream and apple pie for dessert.

Recent Examples on the Web

Two Cincinnati institutions have teamed up for the ultimate sweet-and-spicy dessert collaboration. —Erin Clack, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025

Also, don’t forget dessert — the daily selection changes. —Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2025

Spend your days exploring the great outdoors on nature walks, blissed out at the spa on the property, or sampling entrees and desserts at the on-site restaurant–all within plain view of the Hudson river. —Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 23 Jan. 2025

To finish, indulge in desserts like the apple and celery popsicle and berries with chocolate. —Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French desserte "food cleared from the table (in the phrase desserte des més), course served at the end of the meal," derivative of desservir "to clear the table (of food, dishes)," from des- dis- + servir "to serve entry 1"

Note: Middle French desserte is apparently formed by analogy with desert from deservir—see note at desert entry 4.

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dessert

• dessert wine

Kids Definition

dessert

noun

des·​sert di-ˈzərt 

: a course of usually sweet food, fruit, or cheese usually served at the end of a meal