pepperoni

noun

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Some folks came for the stories, others for the pepperoni and beer. AZCentral.com, 8 Jan. 2023 If using, add the pepperoni and fry, stirring regularly, until crispy, 3 to 5 minutes. Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2022 Wash down a classic pepperoni or spicy pineapple pizza with a West Berkeley pilsner or the Guava Jardin sour ale. Mario Cortez, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Mar. 2023 Reddit users expressed astonishment about the price of the Roast Beef Sandwich being nearly the same as an entire 18-inch pepperoni pizza, which is $9.95. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Feb. 2023 All Mason wanted to know when his father was in the middle of reprimanding him was whether the pepperoni pizzas had arrived yet. Andrea Salcedo, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2023 Pizza John’s produced and distributed the pepperoni pizzas from March 2020 through July 28th, 2022. Chris Smith, BGR, 28 Aug. 2022 Toppings include double pepperoni or another topping of the customer’s choice with prices beginning at $13.99. Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 10 Jan. 2023 Pie named for Corley (white sauce, mozzarella, chicken, bacon, spinach and feta, $16) and the Tony’s pie named for co-owner Tony Davis (San Marzano sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian sausage, bacon and Conecuh sausage, $17). al, 19 Dec. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pepperoni.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near pepperoni

Cite this Entry

“Pepperoni.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pepperoni. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

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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