Italian sausage

noun

plural Italian sausages

: a usually pork sausage link flavored with fennel or anise and often other ingredients (such as hot pepper, cheese, or red wine)

hot/sweet Italian sausage

… spicy, fennel-scented Italian sausage …

—The New York Times

… an Italian sausage on a roll with marinara sauce and melted cheese …

—Emily Goodin

broadly : any of a variety of sausages of Italian origin

'Nduja is an Italian sausage similar to chorizo, but it has a solid kick to it.

—Kristine M. Kierzek

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above