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Definition of pastrami

pastrami

/pəˈstrɑː.mi/
pas · tra · mi
Plural:pastramis
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pastrami Lexical Profile

pastrami Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A highly seasoned cut of beef—usually brisket or navel—that is brined, heavily coated with a spice rub containing black pepper and coriander, smoked, and then steamed before slicing.

Example

"For lunch, she ordered a hot pastrami sandwich on marbled rye with a side of sharp deli mustard."

• Rhymes for pastrami

• Nearby Words

pasting
pastor
pastoral
pastrami
pastry
pastrycook
pasture

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed into American English from Yiddish 'pastrame', which derives from Romanian 'pastramă', ultimately tracing back to Ottoman Turkish 'bastırma' (pressed meat).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pastrami. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pastrami
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