pastrami

noun

pas·​tra·​mi pə-ˈsträ-mē How to pronounce pastrami (audio)
variants or less commonly pastromi
: a highly seasoned smoked beef prepared especially from shoulder cuts

Examples of pastrami in a Sentence

He ordered a pastrami sandwich.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Try the pastrami, corn beef or a Reuben sandwich, enjoy a bowl of matzoh ball soup, and get some black and whites for dessert. — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Chicken, turkey, pastrami, salami — this little bodega’s sandwiches have it all. — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 July 2026 The Queens ballpark leans on New York icons like Shake Shack burgers and pastrami sandwiches, along with soft pretzels and classic New York-style hot dogs. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026 Lobel’s, a six-generation NYC butcher shop, hand-carves USDA Prime steak sandwiches and serves pastrami fries. — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pastrami

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish pastrame, from Romanian pastramă pressed and cured meat

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pastrami was in 1895

Rhymes for pastrami

See All Rhymes for pastrami

Browse Nearby Words

past perfect
pastrami
pastry
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pastrami.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastrami. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pastrami

noun
pas·​tra·​mi pə-ˈsträm-ē How to pronounce pastrami (audio)
: a highly seasoned smoked beef
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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