cayenne pepper

noun

1

: a pungent condiment consisting of the ground dried fruits or seeds of hot peppers

2

: hot pepper

especially : any of several cultivated peppers of a variety (Capsicum annuum var. longum) with very long twisted pungent red fruits

3

: the fruit of a cayenne pepper

Examples of cayenne pepper in a Sentence

a dash of cayenne pepper

Recent Examples on the Web

Authorities said the two women subjected Franke’s two youngest children to torture, which included dressing the children’s wounds with cayenne pepper and honey, forcing them to work in the sweltering heat for hours with little food or water and plunging the youngest son’s head underwater. —Christine Pelisek, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Whisk together cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, black pepper, celery salt, and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. —Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025

Coat garbage cans in a weak cayenne pepper solution or place a dish of ammonia nearby. —Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2025

Add zest, cherries, cayenne pepper, rosemary, preserves, vinegar, and cloves. —Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 17 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

by folk etymology from earlier cayan, ultimately modification of Tupi kɨʔɨ̃já, kɨʔɨ̃nʸá

First Known Use

1756, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cayenne pepper

• leper
• lepper
• stepper