pepperoni

noun

pep·​per·​o·​ni ˌpe-pə-ˈrō-nē How to pronounce pepperoni (audio)
: 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.
Regardless of whether a pepperoni pizza will be sold in schools or the grocery store, its safety is overseen by the USDA. Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025 One of the many gifts of sobriety is realizing that ordering a Papa John’s pepperoni pizza with extra garlic sauce at two in the morning is not only unhealthy but a classic red flag. John Devore, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2025 The pepperoni pizza with jalapeños and hot honey was nice, but was nothing exceptional. Kyle Stokes, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025 There’s something for every eater, from pepperoni pizza to whole wheat rigatoni with flowering broccoli. Katie Sweeney, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 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 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

pepperoni

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

More from Merriam-Webster on pepperoni

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