paprika

noun

pa·​pri·​ka pə-ˈprē-kə 

pa-

: a usually mild red seasoning consisting of the dried finely ground pods of various sweet peppers

also : a sweet pepper used for making paprika

Examples of paprika in a Sentence

tomato sauce made with garlic, paprika, and pepper

Recent Examples on the Web

The Minneapolis company has shifted to fruit- and vegetable-based dyes as well as colors derived from spices like turmeric and paprika to give its cereals their customary bright colors. — Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Rather than synthetic dyes, General Mills is using colors derived from sources including fruits and vegetables, as well as spices such as turmeric and paprika, to maintain the familiar hues of its cereals. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026

Add the cauliflower, broccoli, and sweet potato to the prepared sheet pan, drizzle with the olive oil, and sprinkle with the onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, a pinch of salt, and a couple cracks of black pepper. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026

The six-ounce North Atlantic lobster tail is breaded, then fried and coated with chives, fresh Parmesan and paprika. — Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Hungarian, from Serbian & Croatian, from papar ground pepper, ultimately from Latin piper — more at pepper

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for paprika

• arnica
• carica
• rebekah
• turcica
• chica

Kids Definition

paprika

noun

pa·​pri·​ka pə-ˈprē-kə 

pa-

: a mild red spice consisting of the dried finely ground fruit of various cultivated sweet peppers