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.
Some of the specials are $7 chicken and waffles, $8 ahi poke tacos and $9 pepperoni pizza. Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026 Two popular pizzas on the menu at Camille’s are Spicy Roni (for pepperoni), with fresh mozzarella, sauce, pepperoni, hot peppers and onion and the one named after Grant, Billy’s Bianco with garlic cream sauce, goat cheese, ricotta, red onion and truffle honey. Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026 The food website Chowhound released its list of the best fast-food pepperoni pizzas, and many of the picks are available nationwide. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026 Don’t miss the spicy sausage pizza topped with Schreiner's sausage, Calabrian chilis, ricotta and hot honey, or the Phoenix pizza with spicy sopresatta, red peppers and hot honey, or the deep dish Grandma pies, available by the slice with pepperoni or customizable for full pies. Eddie Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 9 Feb. 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 26 Feb. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on pepperoni

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster