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

Sichuan 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 of pepper

Verb

• spray
• sprinkle
• dot

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

Go pepper jelly as the recipe suggests for a little kick, or go sweet with fig jam and maybe some pistachios as well. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025

One of my go-to meals is a tofu stir-fry with peppers and onions served over brown rice. —Hannah Harper, Health, 27 Dec. 2025

Verb

Composer Daniel Lopatin spins an electronic score that hews more hedonistic Reagan-era ’80s than period-specific 1950s, with various songs of these two eras peppered throughout — this anachronistic but era-spanning soundtrack is perfectly attuned to the film’s themes. —Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 2025

While colorful berries and occasional blooms pepper the winter landscape, evergreen shrubs form the backbone of the garden, carrying it through the season. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 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