black pepper

American  

noun

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

---

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

---

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

See Examples For:

black pepper

I spooned it over the hot toast and finished it with scallions, sesame seeds, black pepper and olive oil.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026

She would make bowties in a light Parmesan sauce with peas, ham and an indecent amount of black pepper.

From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026

Everything is cooked with unsalted butter, then seasoned with ground coriander, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026

In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, olive oil, Pecorino and black pepper.

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026

Tonight’s rui fish was spiced with black pepper and turmeric, and Ma had made her tasty cauliflower and potato curry.

From "Tiger Boy" by Mitali Perkins