dessert

noun

des·​sert di-ˈzərt How to pronounce dessert (audio)
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 Enjoy live music, dancing, a children's festival, sessions with a genealogy expert, discussions of Irish history, Irish food specials like Guinness stew, corned beef sandwiches, scones, soda bread and desserts. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2024 There are also appetizers, entrée salads, veggie sides and desserts. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Since many stand mixers are designed to work on single-batch recipes, making food and desserts for a crowd can be a bit of a hassle. Laura Denby, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2024 In his winner’s press conference, the victor had laid out his celebratory plans: tucking into dessert at Grandma’s house, just a 20-minute trip away from the venue. Don Riddell, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 For 10 days, more than 25 Wauwatosa restaurants, bars and other businesses offer specials on dining, drinks and desserts. Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024 The dinner option includes similar starter and dessert options and an entree choice of moules frites, beef Bourguignon or salmon with artichokes en barigoule. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 And if fans are looking for something simpler, Blondel proposes the champagne alone can be dessert. Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 For dessert go with the pastiera cheesecake ($11) made with wheat berries. John Mariani, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dessert.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of dessert was in 1600

Dictionary Entries Near dessert

Cite this Entry

“Dessert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dessert. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dessert

noun
des·​sert di-ˈzərt How to pronounce dessert (audio)
: a course of usually sweet food, fruit, or cheese usually served at the end of a meal
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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