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.
They're made of sweet dough stuffed with pepperoni slices and make for a quick and delicious bite. Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 1 May 2025 There are several pizzas to choose from, including the Güero with chicken, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, jalapeños, chiffonade basil, and cheese. Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2025 However, research showed him that there was a specific kind of pepperoni that when baked, the outside curls up and forms a cup and the fat renders in the middle. Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 Avena said pizzerias in Connecticut that do slices often offer only the basics, cheese and pepperoni. Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 19 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 13 May. 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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