python - Delete an item from a dictionary -

is there way delete item dictionary in python?

i know can call .pop on dictionary, returns item removed. i'm looking returns dictionary minus element in question.

at present have helper function accepts dictionary in question parameter, , returns dictionary item removed, there more elegant solution?

the del statement removes element:

del d[key] 

however, mutates existing dictionary contents of dictionary changes else has reference same instance. return new dictionary, make copy of dictionary:

def removekey(d, key):     r = dict(d)     del r[key]     return r 

the dict() constructor makes shallow copy. make deep copy, see copy module.