black pepper

noun

: a spice that consists of the dried fruit of an Indian vine (Piper nigrum) ground with the black husk still on

also : the vine that yields black pepper see peppercorn compare white pepper

Examples of black pepper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Latin Salt is Pisqueya’s signature creation - a blend of sea salt and black pepper infused with Caribbean oregano, a distinctive, aromatic herb sourced from regenerative farms in the Dominican Republic. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

The rich funk of the blue cheese and resonant twang of the black pepper convince the watermelon to let its sweetness glow. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 9 Sep. 2026

The Pepp in Your Step, an old-fashioned with black pepper syrup, gave me sugar-rush Wisconsin supper club vibes. — John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

Bioperine may help the body absorb nutrients and is extracted from black pepper. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for black pepper

• leper
• lepper
• stepper

Kids Definition

black pepper

noun

: a spice that is made by grinding the fruit of the East Indian pepper with the black husk still on

Medical Definition

black pepper

noun

: a condiment that consists of the fruit of an Indian plant of the genus Piper (P. nigrum) ground with the black husk still on