pepperoni

noun

pep·​per·​o·​ni ˌpe-pə-ˈrō-nē How to pronounce pepperoni (audio)
: a highly seasoned beef and pork sausage

Examples of pepperoni in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sandwich is loaded with a juicy looking stack of ham, pepperoni, salami, Swiss cheese, banana peppers, red onions, tomatoes, and lettuce. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025 The new meat sauce has chili flakes, cherry peppers, red bell pepper, pepperoni, red wine and garlic and herbs. Cheryl V. Jackson, The Courier-Journal, 26 Aug. 2025 Its house pizza — The Wise Guy — goes for $25 and has pepperoni, Italian sausage, meatball, bacon and Canadian bacon. Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2025 The pizza deal line up includes CPK’s original barbecue chicken pizza, pepperoni pizza, five cheese and tomato pizza and its mushroom, pepperoni and sausage pizza. Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pepperoni

Word History

Etymology

Italian peperoni cayenne peppers, plural of peperone, augmentative of pepe pepper, from Latin piper — more at pepper

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pepperoni was in 1888

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pepperoni.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pepperoni. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

pepperoni

noun
pep·​per·​o·​ni ˌpep-ə-ˈrō-nē How to pronounce pepperoni (audio)
: a highly seasoned beef and pork sausage

More from Merriam-Webster on pepperoni

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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