pepperoni

noun

pep·​per·​o·​ni ˌpe-pə-ˈrō-nē How to pronounce pepperoni (audio)
Synonyms of pepperoninext
: 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.
Cut the pepperoni into small cubes. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026 But suppose 30 percent of the pepperoni is on the left half and 70 percent on the right. Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2026 The happy hour bargains are $6 beers, $8 glasses of red and white wine, $12 margaritas, $12 garlic parmesan fries, $14 ceviche and a $16 pepperoni flatbread. Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 The item combines a plain donut base with garlic butter, cheeses, pepperoni, marinara and Italian seasoning. Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026 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 10 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

pepperoni

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

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