pepperoni

noun

pep·​per·​o·​ni ˌpe-pə-ˈrō-nē 

: a highly seasoned beef and pork sausage

Examples of pepperoni in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Strawberry — sweet and jammy — is the most popular, while the seasonal Pumpkin Donut, with subtle bitter notes, pairs well with a slice of pepperoni pizza. —Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2025

The pizza features new deli-style pepperoni, a three-cheese blend, and signature Italian seasoning, sliced into eight extra-extra-large pieces and delivered in the restaurant's largest box yet. —Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025

Those looking for a more traditional pizza option will enjoy The Classic, a red sauce pie with mozzarella, Broadbent bacon crumble, and cupping pepperoni. —Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Oct. 2025

Kids can get cheese or pepperoni pizza, or penne pasta with meat or marinara sauce, with carrots, fruit and a drink. —Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for pepperoni

• abalone
• acrimony
• alimony
• antimony
• ceremony
• chalcedony
• cicerone
• cosmogony
• eurozone
• lithopone
• macaroni
• matrimony

Kids Definition

pepperoni

noun

pep·​per·​o·​ni ˌpep-ə-ˈrō-nē 

: a highly seasoned beef and pork sausage