noun

delicacy

/ˈdɛlɪkəsi/ · say it: DEL·i·kuh·see

sensitivity requiring careful handling

In Nuance & Precision

In more detail

1. (noun) a food that is rare, expensive, or considered special and elegant

2. (noun) the quality of being delicate, soft, or easily damaged

3. (noun) the need to be careful and sensitive in handling a situation

Examples

Caviar is considered a delicacy in many countries.
The delicacy of the silk fabric means you must wash it by hand.
The situation requires delicacy because many people have strong feelings about it.

How to use delicacy

Delicacy has three distinct uses: it refers to rare or prized foods (often regional or exotic), to the fragile or refined quality of physical things, and to the careful, sensitive approach needed for touchy situations. The context determines which sense is meant, though all share an underlying notion of refinement or vulnerability.

Common phrases

culinary delicacy
local delicacy
handle with delicacy
treat with delicacy
delicate situation requires delicacy
the delicacy of the matter

Synonyms

delicatessen · rarity · finesse · sensitivity · fragility

Opposites

coarseness · robustness · insensitivity

Word family

delicate (adjective) · delicately (adverb) · delicatessen (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse delicacy (the food) with delicatessen (a shop or the type of cured meat products), or overuse the word for routine foods rather than truly special or rare items.

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