What does dessert mean?
Dessert is the sweet course that concludes a meal — dishes such as cakes, tarts, ice cream, fruit, puddings, and pastries served after the savoury courses have been cleared. The word functions as a noun in both British and American English, though Britons also say "pudding", "sweet", or "afters" informally. Dessert derives from the French desservir, meaning "to clear the table", reflecting the historical practice of removing the main dishes before serving sweets. Beyond its literal culinary sense, the word often carries connotations of reward and indulgence: people speak of "dessert first" as a small rebellion, or use the term loosely for any sweet treat enjoyed at any time. A common spelling trap pairs it with desert, a dry landscape spelled with one "s" — remembering that you want a second helping (and thus a second "s") helps keep them apart.
The sweet course eaten at the end of a meal.
"The restaurant is famous for its crème brûlée dessert."
(Informal) A sweet food or confection regarded as an indulgence, regardless of when it is eaten.
"Ice cream for breakfast? That's not breakfast, that's dessert."
Regular plural; commonly used when referring to varieties or multiple servings of sweet courses.
"The bakery specializes in French desserts such as éclairs and madeleines."
Dessert comes from the French desservir, "to clear the table" — it was literally what got served once the plates were cleared away.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dessert
Dessert entered English from French in the early seventeenth century, derived from the French verb desservir, meaning "to clear the table" or "to remove what has been served". The sense evolved from the act of clearing away the main courses to describe the sweet items served afterwards. It shares its ultimate root with English words like deserve and service, all stemming from the Latin servire, "to serve".
How dessert is actually used
In British English, informal alternatives include "pud" (from pudding), "afters", and "sweet"; in American English, "dessert" is the standard everyday term. The word carries a connotation of indulgence and pleasure, often used figuratively to mean something delightful saved for last. It is always a mass or count noun in normal use and has no verb form.
Easily confused with dessert
"Desert" (one s) means a dry, barren land region or, as a verb, to abandon — while "dessert" (two s's) is the sweet final course of a meal.