pepperoni

noun

pep·​per·​o·​ni ˌpe-pə-ˈrō-nē How to pronounce pepperoni (audio)
Synonyms of pepperoninext
: a highly seasoned beef and pork sausage

Examples of pepperoni in a Sentence

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.
There is basic pizza with toppings and also a variety of specialty pizzas, such as the Carnivore featuring meatballs, sausage, bacon, pepperoni, mozzarella, and sauce, and the Verdura, featuring spinach, peppers, onions, mushrooms, eggplant, mozzarella and sauce. Pamela Brown, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026 Dinner is a playground of refreshing charm and joyful abandon; expect fresh takes like cavatelli with pepperoni butter or spaghetti alla chitarra with crab and tomato gravy. Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026 Italian‑leaning combos loaded with capicola, pepperoni, salami, provolone, hot pepper cheese, and vegetables dressed with mayo and oil. Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 3 Feb. 2026 Those restrictions initially made for awkward encounters in the school lunch line, where I was often confronted by a hot meal of cheeseburgers or pepperoni pizza. Vishal Khetpal, STAT, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pepperoni

Word History

Etymology

Italian peperoni cayenne peppers, plural of peperone, augmentative of pepe pepper, from Latin piper — more at pepper

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pepperoni was in 1888

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pepperoni.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pepperoni. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

pepperoni

noun
pep·​per·​o·​ni ˌpep-ə-ˈrō-nē How to pronounce pepperoni (audio)
: a highly seasoned beef and pork sausage

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