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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

This venerable deli, open for 35 years in San Francisco and 29 years in Foster City, boasted a whopping 11 variations on the cheesesteak theme, including versions with chicken, salami, mushrooms, pizza toppings or all-vegetarian on torpedo rolls. —

Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 20 Dec. 2024 This one is on Allen Street, a spot that was formerly a bordello, a bar, and a deli. —

Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2024 On that list: A deadly listeria outbreak among Boar's Head deli meat and an investigation into cucumbers contaminated with salmonella. —

Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Dec. 2024 The Midtown location is set to be the largest store in the lineup, with grab-and-go options, a deli, hot bar, juice and salad bar. —

Molly Davis, The Tennessean, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deli