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

See Examples For:

black pepper

Then I finish with the zest of half a lemon and as much black pepper as my heart tells me is correct.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

I use the zest of a whole lemon rather than its juice — lots of brightness, no unnecessary liquid — plus dried thyme, garlic, onion and enough black pepper to make itself known.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026

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

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026

Each one has a crisp, dramatically puffed border surrounding a baked egg, with salty pancetta, sharp pecorino and enough black pepper to send the whole thing in a cacio e pepe direction.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026

For additional protection, he suggested taking frequent warm baths and inhaling finely ground black pepper.

From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy