# continuous delivery

CEFR C1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/continuous-delivery
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a way of making software where every change is tested and ready to be released at any time. It helps teams get new features to users quickly and safely.

For teachers: a software engineering approach in which teams produce software in short cycles, ensuring that the code can be reliably released at any time. It relies on automated testing and deployment pipelines to reduce the risk and manual effort of shipping updates.

## Examples

- Our team uses continuous delivery to release updates every week.
- By adopting continuous delivery, the startup was able to fix bugs and deploy new features within hours of receiving customer feedback.
- The transition to continuous delivery requires a robust automated testing suite and a culture of shared responsibility to ensure that the main branch remains in a deployable state at all times.

## Pitfalls

- Not "continuous deliver" but "continuous delivery" — The term is a compound noun; 'delivery' must be in its noun form, not the verb 'deliver'.

## Usage notes

- Often used in technical contexts alongside 'continuous integration' (CI/CD).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.