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Definition of dessert

dessert

/dɪˈzɝːt/
des · sert
Plural:desserts
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dessert Lexical Profile

dessert Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A typically sweet course or dish, such as cake, pudding, or ice cream, that is served at the conclusion of a meal.

Example

"After enjoying a hearty dinner, the guests were treated to a rich chocolate mousse for dessert."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for dessert
Antonyms
View all antonyms for dessert

Word Nuance & Usage

Frequently confused with the homophone 'desert' (an arid region or to abandon). A common mnemonic to remember the spelling of 'dessert' is that you usually want 'two' of them, hence the double 's'.

• Rhymes for dessert

• Nearby Words

desna
desoto
desoto falls
dessert
detax
detector
detergent

Word Origin & Etymology

Mid 16th century: from French 'dessert', from the verb 'desservir' meaning 'to clear the table', from 'des-' (expressing removal) + 'servir' (to serve). It originally referred to the fruit or sweets served after the main dinner dishes had been cleared away.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dessert. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dessert
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