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

While potatoes cook, whisk together sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, lime juice, garlic, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a medium bowl. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025

Stir in flour, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper and cayenne pepper until mixture is combined and thickened, 1 minute. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2025

Thirty-two rows of squash, garlic, onions, sage, jalapeño peppers, cayenne peppers, and banana peppers. —Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025

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

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