salt-and-pepper

adjective

salt-and-pep·​per ˈsȯlt-ən(d)-ˈpe-pər 

: having black-and-white or dark and light color intermingled in small flecks

a salt-and-pepper suit

a salt-and-pepper beard

Examples of salt-and-pepper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Texas barbecue is typically defined by salt-and-pepper brisket and pork ribs, but this new crop of halal pitmasters are adding inventive twists, often based on their own family heritages. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Customers can expect to find anything from vintage clothing and accessories from the flapper era to specialty light fixtures, unique salt-and-pepper shakers and mid-century furniture. — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026

Colored yarns create a salt-and-pepper effect that gives this piece textural depth. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026

By incorporating a unique salt-and-pepper diamond and casting the design in yellow gold for the first time, the studio offered a new perspective on a familiar silhouette, while preserving its identity. — Kate Matthams, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for salt-and-pepper

• leper
• lepper
• pepper
• stepper

Kids Definition

salt-and-pepper

adjective

: having dark and light color intermingled in small flecks

a salt-and-pepper beard