black pepper

American  

noun

1. a hot, sharp condiment prepared from the dried berries of a tropical vine, Piper nigrum.

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black pepper British  

noun

1. a pungent condiment made by grinding the dried unripe berries, together with their black husks, of the pepper plant Piper nigrum

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Compare meaning

How does black-pepper compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• white pepper vs. black pepper

Example Sentences

Onion follows, then one can of the fire-roasted tomatoes alongside garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, black pepper and beef bouillon.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

The miso adds a quiet, savory hum beneath the Parmesan and Pecorino, while the final hit of black pepper keeps everything sharp.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

It’s a spice mix made of cumin, coriander, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and turmeric.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Finish with torn basil, a decisive grind of black pepper, perhaps a small squeeze of lemon if it needs brightness.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

And to me, she was a seed of black pepper.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri