delicacy
C1Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
A rare, expensive, or finely prepared food item, often considered a luxury.
1. The quality of being delicate, fragile, or requiring careful handling. 2. Sensitivity, tact, or subtlety in dealing with a difficult situation. 3. A fine or intricate detail or feature.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word operates primarily as a noun. Its meaning shifts significantly between the concrete (food) and abstract (quality) senses, requiring context for disambiguation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. The food sense is universally understood. Minor spelling differences in related words (e.g., 'delicatessen' is common in both, but 'delicatessen' is the standard spelling).
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of refinement, exclusivity (food sense), and sensitivity or tact (abstract sense).
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in formal or descriptive writing in both regions. The food sense is common in travel, culinary, and cultural contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[delicacy] of [noun] (e.g., delicacy of flavour)[verb] a delicacy (e.g., consider a delicacy)handle/treat with [delicacy]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Handle with kid gloves (related to the 'tact' sense)”
- “A dish fit for a king (related to the 'food' sense)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts discussing sensitive negotiations ('The merger talks required great delicacy.') or luxury goods marketing.
Academic
Used in anthropology, cultural studies, and literature to discuss food culture or nuanced social interactions.
Everyday
Most common in the food sense when discussing travel or special meals. The 'tact' sense is used in discussions about relationships or difficult conversations.
Technical
Not typically a technical term. May appear in culinary arts or materials science (referring to fragility).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - 'delicacy' is not a verb.
American English
- N/A - 'delicacy' is not a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'delicacy' is not an adverb. The related adverb is 'delicately'.
American English
- N/A - 'delicacy' is not an adverb. The related adverb is 'delicately'.
adjective
British English
- N/A - 'delicacy' is not an adjective. The related adjective is 'delicate'.
American English
- N/A - 'delicacy' is not an adjective. The related adjective is 'delicate'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We tried a local delicacy on holiday.
- The glass ornament was handled with great delicacy.
- Fried insects are considered a delicacy in some cultures.
- She discussed the private matter with surprising delicacy.
- The chef sourced a rare sea urchin roe, a true delicacy for the tasting menu.
- The delicacy of the ceasefire negotiations meant that every word had to be chosen carefully.
- The documentary explored the paradox of fugu, a lethal pufferfish that remains a coveted delicacy in Japan.
- His critique was delivered with such intellectual delicacy that it illuminated flaws without causing offence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DELICATE SEAshell – both are fragile (delicacy as a quality) and can be a rare, prized find (delicacy as a food).
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUABLE OBJECT IS DELICACY (e.g., 'His opinion was a delicacy not to be trampled on.'); DIFFICULT SITUATION IS FRAGILE OBJECT (e.g., 'The diplomatic issue required the delicacy of a watchmaker.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'деликатес' only as 'delicacy' in the food sense; 'gourmet food/speciality' are also correct. The Russian word is narrower.
- The abstract sense of 'деликатность' (tact) maps perfectly to the abstract sense of 'delicacy'.
- Do not use 'delicacy' to mean 'a delicate person' – that is 'a delicate individual'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective (incorrect: 'a delicacy situation'; correct: 'a delicate situation').
- Confusing 'delicacy' (noun) with 'delicate' (adjective).
- Overusing the food sense when the abstract sense is meant.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'delicacy' used in its ABSTRACT sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While a common meaning refers to a fine or rare food, 'delicacy' also means fragility, subtlety, or tact in handling situations.
The related adjective is 'delicate'. 'Delicacy' itself is solely a noun.
Rarely. It typically has positive or neutral connotations (luxury, sensitivity). It could be mildly negative if implying excessive fragility or over-sensitivity, e.g., 'The mechanism's delicacy made it impractical for everyday use.'
As nouns, both can refer to a small, delicious food item. However, 'delicacy' emphasizes rarity/value, while 'dainty' emphasizes small size and prettiness. 'Delicacy' also has the abstract meanings of tact/fragility, which 'dainty' lacks.