hot pepper

noun

: any of various small and usually thin-walled capsicum fruits of marked pungency

also : a plant (especially a variant or cultivar of Capsicum annuum and C. frutescens) bearing hot peppers

Examples of hot pepper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Capsaicin, commonly referred to as hot pepper cream, can also be used, rubbed on the abdomen for some relief, Streem said. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025

Chefs are creating gourmet versions of the dish with inventive toppings like caviar, truffles, and hot pepper jelly. Restaurants in Kentucky, particularly in Louisville, have embraced the trend, featuring creative deviled eggs on their menus. —Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Nov. 2025

This straightforward recipe calls for all the typical ingredients, plus a little extra heat thanks to diced jalapeño and hot pepper sauce. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025

To make new plantings a little more pest-proof, experiment with repellent sprays, like putrid egg solids, hot pepper spray, and humanely sourced predator spray. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hot pepper

• leper
• lepper
• stepper

Kids Definition

hot pepper

noun

1

: an often thin-walled and small pepper with a sharp or biting taste

2

: a pepper plant of the nightshade family that bears hot peppers