hot pepper

noun

: any of various small and usually thin-walled capsicum fruits of marked pungency
also : a plant (especially a variant or cultivar of Capsicum annuum and C. frutescens) bearing hot peppers

Examples of hot pepper 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.
This sheet pan dinner combines sweet and hot peppers, tart tomatillos and chicken. Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 31 Dec. 2024 The latter, conversely, is a list of the 12 fruits and vegetables that are most contaminated with pesticides, including strawberries, spinach, grapes, apples, bell and hot peppers, green beans, and blueberries. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 28 Dec. 2024 Expect to see the same beloved brunch dishes of its sister eateries, from Marnier French Toast and Bay Bottom (Crab) Omelets to a Juicy Lucy Burger with hot pepper bacon jam and Tornado Galbi, with egg and short rib. Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025 Stir-fry some shrimp with hot pepper sauce, garlic, and ginger for a succulent, quick dinner. Linda Gassenheimer, Boston Herald, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hot pepper

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hot pepper was in 1945

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hot pepper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20pepper. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

hot pepper

noun
1
: an often thin-walled and small pepper with a sharp or biting taste
2
: a pepper plant of the nightshade family that bears hot peppers
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!