pepper

1 of 3

noun (1)

pep·​per ˈpe-pər 

1

a

: either of two pungent spices that consist of the dried, typically ground fruit of an Indian vine (Piper nigrum):

(1)

: black pepper

(2)

: white pepper

b

: any of several similar pungent plant products: such as

(1)

: cubeb

(2)

: the dried pinkish-red husks of an Asian tree (genus Zanthoxylum) and especially Z. simulans of the rue family that are typically ground and used as a spice which produces a tingling sensation in the mouth

Szechuan pepper

2

: any of a genus (Piper of the family Piperaceae, the pepper family) of tropical mostly jointed climbing shrubs with aromatic leaves

especially : a woody vine (P. nigrum) with spicate flowers that is widely cultivated in the tropics for its red berries from which black pepper and white pepper are prepared

3

a

: capsicum sense 1

especially : one (Capsicum annuum) whose fruits are hot peppers or sweet peppers

b

: the hollow fruit of a pepper that is usually green when unripe and red or yellow when ripe

pepper adjective

pepper

2 of 3

verb

peppered; peppering ˈpe-p(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to sprinkle or season with pepper

b

: to shower with or as if with shot or other missiles

2

: to hit with or as if with rapid repeated blows

3

: to sprinkle or cover as if with pepper

peppered the report with statistics

a face peppered with freckles

pepperer

ˈpe-pər-ər 

noun

pepper

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a baseball practice or warm-up game in which usually several fielders toss the ball a short distance to a single batter who hits it back

Synonyms

Verb

• bestrew
• dot
• scatter
• sow
• spot
• spray
• sprinkle
• strew

Examples of pepper in a Sentence

Verb

You need to pepper the stew more.

pepper the costume with flecks of glitter

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Usually, that meant simply shaking salt and pepper over the tomato slices. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 May 2025

Or, opt for a spicier variety like a serrano pepper. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025

Verb

Still, the political digs are peppered in the string. —Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 19 May 2025

Relying heavily on his four-seam fastball, Ryan peppered the zone and struck out the side in the second and third innings. —Dan Hayes, New York Times, 17 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English peper, from Old English pipor, from Latin piper, from Greek peperi

Noun (2)

probably from pep entry 2 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1943, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pepper

• banana pepper
• bell pepper
• bird pepper
• black pepper
• cayenne pepper
• chili pepper
• ghost pepper
• green pepper
• hot pepper
• pepper-and-salt
• pepper jack
• pepper jack cheese
• pepper mill
• pepper pot
• pepper shaker
• pepper spray
• pepper with
• Philadelphia pepper pot
• red pepper
• salt-and-pepper
• sweet pepper
• water pepper
• white pepper

Rhymes for pepper

• leper
• lepper
• stepper

Kids Definition

pepper

1 of 2 noun

pep·​per ˈpep-ər 

1

: either of two sharp-tasting products from the fruit of an Indian plant used especially as a seasoning

a

: black pepper

b

: white pepper

2

: a woody vine with rounded leaves and flowers arranged in a spike that is widely cultivated in the tropics for its red berries from which pepper is prepared

3

: any of several products similar to pepper that are obtained from close relatives of the pepper

4

a

: any of a genus of tropical American herbs and shrubs of the nightshade family widely cultivated for their many-seeded fruits that usually have fleshy walls

especially : one whose fruits are hot peppers or sweet peppers

b

: the fruit of a pepper that is usually green when unripe and yellow or red when ripe

pepper adjective

pepper

2 of 2 verb

peppered; peppering ˈpep-(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to sprinkle, cover, or season with or as if with pepper

pepper the stew

a face peppered with freckles

2

: to hit with a shower of blows or objects

Medical Definition

pepper

noun

pep·​per ˈpep-ər 

1

a

: a woody Indian vine of the genus Piper (P. nigrum) that is widely cultivated in the tropics for its red berries from which black pepper and white pepper are prepared

b(1)

: black pepper

(2)

: white pepper

2

: capsicum sense 2